Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

BATON ROUGE, LA - March 13, 2020

Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a proclamation aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 and helping reduce the economic impact of COVID-19 on the citizens of Louisiana. The effects of the proclamation are as follows:

(1) Gatherings of 50 people or more in a single space at the same time where individuals will be in close proximity to one another are required to be postponed or cancelled, beginning today through April 13, 2020. This does not apply to normal operations at locations like airports, medical facilities, shopping centers, or malls, office buildings, factories or manufacturing facilities, or grocery or department stores. This limitation is based on CDC guidance based on the community spread the state is currently experiencing.

(2) All public schools in state are required to close until April 13, 2020. Schools can continue to provide meals or other essential services using appropriate social distancing measures. Instructional minute requirements are suspended.

(3) Deadlines and expiration dates relative to licenses and registrations with Office of Motor Vehicles are suspended, reducing the amount of face-to-face public interaction in state government buildings.

(4) Deadlines related to request certain administrative hearings with the Department of Public Safety and rules related to expiration of concealed handgun permits are suspended.
 

(5) “Emergency-related claims” are established for unemployment compensation so that persons whose unemployment is directly due to the impact of COVID-19, or due to the inability to get to their job or worksite because they are sick, isolated or quarantined, caring for a sick family member, or when an employees’ child’s school is closed.
 

(6) Bingo halls are not allowed to operate until April 13, 2020.
 

The Public Service Commission also issued an executive order today prohibiting public utilities from interrupting service for a person’s inability to pay until further notice.
 

The following links are reliable sources of public information on the Coronavirus; they include the information and precautions you should take to protect you and your family:
 

 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

 Louisiana Department of Health

LDH Coronavirus hotline: 1-855-523-2652 (8:00AM to 4:30PM Monday-Friday)
 

 Governor’s Office Coronavirus information page

 La. Department of Education page featuring COVID-19 guidance for schools

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) UPDATE

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