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New virus testing sites open in New Orleans to high demand

Associated Press | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years AGO
by Associated Press
| March 20, 2020 7:03 AM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Additional testing centers for the new coronavirus ran out of the day's supply of tests within hours of opening Friday in New Orleans, one of the nation's hot spots for the virus.

Four more state residents died, including the first victim outside of southeastern Louisiana, as doctors worried about dwindling supplies and an expected spike in patients.

Also Friday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell bolstered her earlier efforts to prevent gatherings that could result in the virus spreading with a “stay at home mandate.” She said at a news conference that people should leave their homes only for “critical needs” such as food or grocery runs or doctor visits. Restaurants can continue to offer takeout food.

“You can go outside for recreation but do not do so in a group,” said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, the city's health director.

Tests were being offered at New Orleans' two new drive-thru sites, in the parking lots of a local theater and a university arena. But they initially were being offered only to health care workers and first responders showing symptoms consistent with the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus, according to New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell's office. The sites are supplied by the federal government.

Both locations, with materials for 100 tests a day, shut down by early afternoon — several hours earlier than advertised — after reaching their day's testing capacity early. They were expected to reopen Saturday.

Nearly 500 people in Louisiana tested positive for the virus by Friday morning, and 13 Louisiana residents have died from COVID-19, according to state health department data.

While more than three-quarters of positive tests were in the New Orleans area, cases of the virus are starting to show up in nearly every metropolitan region of the state, with positive tests in parishes in northwestern, central and southwestern Louisiana. The virus has shown up in 25 of Louisiana's 64 parishes.

One of the deaths announced Friday by the state health department was a 38-year-old Catahoula Parish resident who had existing health problems, the first person known to die from the virus in central Louisiana — and the state's youngest recorded death from the virus.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, like other states' leaders, has offered dire warnings about the risk of health care shortages. Edwards said a surge in virus cases filling hospital beds could push Louisiana past its capacity to deliver health care in seven to 10 days — what he described as a worst-case scenario if residents don't actively decrease contact with others.

Edwards has closed schools, shuttered bars and gyms and limited restaurants to takeout and delivery. He's repeatedly called on people to stay home if possible.

The vast majority of people recover within weeks after catching the virus, and for most, it causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause severe illness requiring hospitalization.

Because of limited testing, public health officials have said most of these early positive tests in Louisiana involve people with serious symptoms who need more intensive health care treatment.

Hospitals were canceling elective procedures and moving staff from other facilities to ready for increases in COVID-19 patients. Health care facilities in Louisiana, like counterparts around the nation, were having difficulty getting medical equipment.

Dr. Katherine Williams said she has the needed supplies in her Covington obstetrics and gynecology office right now. But she’s watching it dwindle — even toilet paper and paper towels are on back order for doctors.

As president of the Louisiana State Medical Society, Williams is hearing concerns from doctors around the state. Surgical masks are running low. Disinfectant wipes are running out. Gloves are difficult to find. Hospitals are rationing and sterilizing items they once tossed in the trash can after one use.

Williams is urging companies that produce masks, gloves and cleaning products to give health care workers a priority for getting those items. She said medical supply levels likely will reach critical lows by next week.

“The ability for us to care for those who are most sick is going to be diminished," Williams said.

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Deslatte reported from Baton Rouge, La.

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The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.

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