New Orleans sees zero coronavirus deaths for first time in 37 days
New Orleans saw its first day in more than a month with no coronavirus deaths on Monday.
Of the 27 coronavirus deaths in Louisiana, none were in Orleans Parish, the first time in 37 days, according to the New Orleans Advocate. The most recent day with no deaths in the parish before Monday was March 22.
Overall infections statewide increased by 295 Monday, according to state data. A total of 1,683 patients statewide are hospitalized with the virus, with the biggest hot spots outside Orleans Parish including East Baton Rouge Parish, with 1,771 cases, and Caddo Parish, with 1,471 cases, according to the newspaper.
The state has also ramped up commercial testing, with 135,726 performed as of Monday, an increase of 3,747 from the Sunday total and an increase of 647 from the final pre-review total reported at 135,079.
Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House coronavirus task force, expressed concerns about New Orleans in particular as a viral hot spot earlier in April, saying “The dynamics of the outbreak in New Orleans are worrisome” and that the curve of the outbreak there was starting to resemble New York.
Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) around the same time expressed frustration over reports that residents had failed to follow social distancing measures, calling increases in confirmed cases “extremely upsetting” but saying it was likely the result of a testing logjam.
Edwards announced Monday that he would extend the state’s stay-at-home order through May 15, after which he said restaurants will be free to resume dine-in service and personal care businesses will be permitted to open at reduced capacity.
“I am anxious to get all areas of our economy reopened, but if we accelerate too quickly, we may have to slam on the brakes. That will be bad for public health and for businesses, bad for our people and bad for our state,” Edwards said in a statement Monday.