TOPLINE
For the first time in more than a month, New Orleans reported no new coronavirus deaths on Monday—but it only lasted a day, as city and state officials insist more needs to be done.
Typically bustling with musicians, tarot readers, artists and other performers, Jackson Square is … [+] seen empty on the first day of what would have been the cancelled Jazz Fest 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
AFP via Getty Images
KEY FACTS
Louisiana reported 27 new deaths statewide on Monday, but none in Orleans Parish, the first time the Big Easy reported no new deaths from the virus since March 22.
Orleans Parish and the neighboring Jefferson Parish, the hardest hit areas of Louisiana, counted a combined 68 new cases Monday, with two new deaths reported in Jefferson.
However, it wasn’t to last—Orleans Parish reported four new deaths on Tuesday, with 9 in Jefferson Parish, though health officials have pointed out that daily figures can be skewed by late reporting.
The state’s coronavirus peak—for now—appears to have been in early April, when the state was seeing upwards of 1,000 new cases per day.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday that while progress had been made, he would extend the state’s stay-at-home order through May 15, at least—it was set to expire this week after being put into place in mid-March.
On Tuesday, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said cancelling next year’s Mardi Gras celebration is an option if data shows the spread of the disease has not slowed.
KEY BACKGROUND
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, 1,758 residents had died of coronavirus across the state as of Tuesday since the coronavirus pandemic began, with Orleans and Jefferson parishes accounting for more than 700 of those deaths. New Orleans’ high infection rate is tied to the city’s widespread poverty, experts say. New Orleans residents have higher-than-average rates of preexisting medical conditions, along with a lack of access to healthcare and affordable housing. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease doctor and part of the White House coronavirus task force, expressed concern for New Orleans in particular earlier this month, saying the curve of the virus was beginning to look like that of New York City, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.
FURTHER READING
Coronavirus in Louisiana, April 27: No new deaths in Orleans for 1st time in 37 days (New Orleans Advocate)
New Orleans sees zero coronavirus deaths for first time in 37 days (The Hill)
Why Coronavirus Is Killing New Orleans Area Residents At Possibly The Highest Rate In The U.S. (Forbes)
New Orleans Could Be The Next Coronavirus Epicenter, As Available Ventilators Dwindle (Forbes)
Why Chicago, Detroit And New Orleans Could Become The Next Coronavirus ‘Hot Spots’ (Forbes)
