Covington Weekly » Blog Archives

Tag Archives: coronavirus

Local News Parish News

Parish President Mike Cooper Calls on Citizens to Continue Prevention Practices Through the Mardi Gras Holiday

Published by:

From St. Tammany Parish Government:

As we head into the Mardi Gras holiday weekend, St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper is relying on each and every St. Tammany resident to take personal responsibility, and heed the advice of medical professionals to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“St. Tammany Parish, like much of Louisiana, is preparing to celebrate the Mardi Gras holiday, albeit in different, more creative ways. We ask each of you to refrain from large gatherings — especially with people from outside of your own household, wear a mask in public, and continue to take precautions.”

President Cooper went on to say, “We are seeing our numbers decline with each passing week. Let’s plan to keep it that way, as we take the necessary precautions during Mardi Gras. Our goals have always been to lessen the burden on our hospitals and healthcare professionals who have worked tirelessly to care for COVID-19 patients for nearly a year, and to balance the health of our community with the health of our economy. With everyone working together, we can achieve these goals and get through this pandemic.”

View President Cooper’s taped message, here.

For daily updates on COVID-19 including daily data for St. Tammany from the Louisiana Department of Health, visit www.stpgov.org/covid19.

Local News Parish News

COVID Vaccine Eligibility Expanded by Louisiana Department of Health

Published by:

Update from St. Tammany Health System:

Governor announced minimum age eligibility reduced to 65 and first responder rules widened buy vigraus today acknowledgment letter for thesis sample directional alternative hypothesis example essay on spirit of sportsmanship https://conversationalgeek.com/assessment/nascar-case-study-answers/5/ follow url here research paper on cultural anthropology follow url synthroid breakfast club png speech bubble go to site https://workethic.org/order/viagra-msds/85/ kde koupit cialis bez pedpisu cialis potenzmittel rezeptfrei seroquel prescription computer thesis list gcse sociology coursework methodology http://archive.ceu.edu/store.php?treat=levitra-mason-neck an essay on life without school il cialis meglio del viagra outline of law dissertation source site cheap college school essay samples source url source site follow url pmr english essay guided writing click here online movies review follow link cultural norms essays

Louisiana will expand eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines on Monday (Feb. 8), Gov. John Bel Edwards announced in a Thursday press conference, lowering the minimum age from 70 to 65 and adding all first responders, not just those providing healthcare and vaccinations.

Those eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, based on criteria outlined by Louisiana Department of Health at LDH.la.gov/CovidVaccine/, can call 985-898-4001 to schedule an appointment through St. Tammany Health System.

When vaccines first became publicly available in December, they were limited only to Louisianans 70 and older, due to that group’s increased vulnerability to complications from the disease, and to healthcare professionals, due to their increased chances of exposure.

Increased availability of vaccine made it possible to widen eligibility, Edwards said.

“This is great news in the fight against COVID-19,” said Dr. Mike Hill, an infectious disease specialist at St. Tammany Health System. “The quickest and safest way for us to defeat this pandemic is to get as many people vaccinated as possible, and we’re excited for the opportunity to protect more of our neighbors here in St. Tammany.”

Dr. Hill added that both the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine – each of which requires two doses – have proven to be both safe and effective in combating the virus.

“I got my vaccine in December, and I strongly encourage everyone in St. Tammany Parish to do the same as soon as you become eligible,” he said.

The expansion of vaccine eligibility comes at a crucial time, as COVID infections appear to be leveling off in Louisiana following a holiday season spike that stressed hospitals statewide. It also comes just as health officials warn against mass gatherings on Mardi Gras, which is Feb. 16 this year, and which could see another surge of infections.

Specific details about eligibility in Louisiana can be found at LDH.la.gov/CovidVaccine/.

Local News Parish News

STHS Administering COVID Vaccine to Elders and Community Providers

Published by:

St. Tammany Health System opens vaccination appointments to qualified community members

From STHS, COVINGTON – Following Louisiana Office of Public Health guidance, St. Tammany Health System announced vaccine appointment availability for community residents aged 70 and over, as well as community medical providers not employed by the health system.

“Even as we see COVID cases peaking again, we have hope,” STHS President/CEO Joan Coffman said. “We have vaccines, and they are rolling out in greater numbers to wider audiences each week. We are grateful to have the ability to administer these vaccines to our seniors and fellow community healthcare staff.”

With STHS staff inoculation well underway, the health system now has the capacity to offer vaccination appointments to community medical providers and elders 70 and above. Those who qualify can schedule an appointment in MyChart (StTammany.Health/MyChart) or call 985-898-4001 (press 1). Vaccination for the public is through STHS Express Care Clinic, 71338 Hwy 21, Covington, and requires an appointment. Details about the vaccination program is available at https://www.sttammany.health/News/COVID-vaccine-eligibility.

“Every individual is part of the solution to eradicating this disease,” Coffman said. “Together, we can achieve 70% immunization of our population, which will mean herd immunity from COVID-19.”

Local News Parish News

First Vaccines Administered at St. Tammany Health System

Published by:

From St. Tammany Health System:

COVID Team Receives First Access to Revolutionary New Immunization

The COVID-19 vaccine has arrived on the Northshore. As part of federal deployment of the groundbreaking Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, St. Tammany Health System began administering vaccine this morning.

STHS infectious disease specialist Dr. Mike Hill became the health system’s first staff member to receive the vaccine at 10 a.m.

A string of Hill’s frontline colleagues followed, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Torcson and about 50 other doctors, nurses and environmental services workers. Another 70 or so were scheduled to receive the first of the two-shot vaccine Thursday, with the second dose to follow in 19 to 21 days. Vaccinations will continue daily as STHS receives vaccine from Louisiana Department of Health.

“This is a big day at St. Tammany Health System,” Hill said moments after receiving his vaccine, delivered via injection to his left arm. “It’s been a long time coming and represents a lot of hard work by everybody involved. We’re very excited to have our employees – the people who are taking care of our patients – getting the first vaccines on the way to being protected against COVID-19.”

He added: “This is the beginning of the end of the pandemic.”

Drs. Hill and Torcson both said it was important for them to be among the first in line to roll up their sleeves as a demonstration of their confidence in the vaccine, which was developed with unprecedented speed as part of the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed program. That speed has prompted some in the public to question the safety of the vaccine, but experts insist the science behind its development is sound and that concerns to the contrary are entirely unfounded.

“This is a perfectly safe vaccine,” Torcson said after receiving his shot. “It really is going to make a significant contribution to ending this pandemic that has really been so devastating worldwide, and certainly in our community here in western St. Tammany Parish. The scientific input and clinical collaboration that went into the development of this vaccine is really unquestionable. This is a safe intervention that’s going to bring this pandemic to an end.”

As production of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine ramps up, and as other COVID vaccines hit the market, healthcare workers, residents of retirement homes, first responders and others deemed high-risk will be among those first in line to receive it. Widespread availability to the public is expected this spring, perhaps as early as February.

Even with the deployment of the vaccine, however, Dr. Hill stressed the continued need for social distancing, mask wearing and good hand hygiene, even for those who have been vaccinated. That’s primarily because it’s unclear how long it will protect those who receive it. Also unclear is whether those who have been vaccinated, even if they show no symptoms, are still able to transmit the virus to others.

Wednesday’s historic vaccine delivery comes almost nine months to the day of the arrival of St. Tammany’s first confirmed COVID-19 patient in mid-March. It also comes two days after the first U.S. patients received the vaccine as part of the ongoing federal rollout.

The heartbeat of its community, St. Tammany Health System cares for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. It is recognized for quality, safety and service excellence by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 and Ochsner Health work together in partnership to improve the community’s health and quality of life. Together, west St. Tammany’s top two independent health leaders represent the most complete system of care, aligning behind the common goals of improving access, expanding specialty care and making care affordable. Under their agreement, each retains its autonomy; neither manages nor owns the other. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS is A+ rated by Fitch and receives no tax funding. More at stph.org.

Local News Parish News

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Announces Decision on 2021 Mardi Gras Parades

Published by:

From St. Tammany Parish Government:

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper announced today that 2021 Mardi Gras Parades will not roll in St. Tammany. The decision was finalized early Thursday, after consultation with Dr. Charles Preston, St. Tammany Parish Coroner, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith, local fire districts, local police departments and a consensus of local mayors.

“This decision was made after much discussion and thoughtful deliberation. We have taken in to consideration the health, safety and welfare of our citizens and the fact that we remain in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic with numbers continuing to rise,” Cooper said. “We want to discourage any event that will draw large crowds and possibly endanger the health of our citizens or possibly put our first responders at risk. I want to thank every leader within our Parish who participated in this conversation. I will continue to do what is right to balance the health of our community with the health of our economy.”

Cooper hosted two conference calls with the above-mentioned parties on separate occasions to discuss the 2021 Mardi Gras season.

Local News Parish News

A Message From the Parish President: COVID Update

Published by:

from St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper at STPgov.org:

Good Afternoon,

I want to wish all of you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. As I said in my statement early last week, we know these holidays are going to be different due to COVID-19. Based on the Governor’s announcement yesterday of a move to a modified Phase 2, we now have some idea of just how different.

The State of Louisiana is facing an increase that, if not addressed, could lead to further increases and strains on our hospitals. We are back to flattening another curve. St. Tammany Parish’s Percent Positivity Rate is above five percent for the last two reported weeks. For the week of 11/5- 11/11 we stand at 6.20 % and for the week of 11/12- 11/18, reported today, we stand at 8.10%. With this information in-hand, it is evident that in addition to asking citizens to wear their masks, physically distance, and avoid large gatherings with people from outside their own households, we can add that we should avoid the scheduling of public events and festivities that will draw large numbers of people. Hopefully by discouraging such events we will see a stabilization of our numbers.

The Governor has provided a synopsis of the major changes to Louisiana’s COVID-19 restrictions here. In addition, the St. Tammany Economic Recovery and Resiliency Advisory Council has updated our Live Safe. Work Safe. Shop Safe. Action Plan to reflect these changes. You may view it here.

I again want to thank Dr. Charles Preston for joining me to provide a video message urging best preventative practices during the holiday season. You may see and share both messages here: President Cooper PSA , Dr. Preston PSA .

I continue to work to balance the health of our community with the health of our economy, and I ask each and every one of you to join me in appealing to every single citizen to continue to work to achieve this balance by taking the steps necessary to slow the spread of this virus. It is imperative that we take personal responsibility to protect ourselves, one another, and most importantly — the most vulnerable among us.

Should you have questions or if I may be of assistance to you in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Have a safe, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving!

Local News Parish News

COVID Update – Statement from St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper

Published by:

From St. Tammany Parish Government:

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper (11/16/2020): “I want to wish every citizen of St. Tammany a safe and happy Thanksgiving. We know these holidays are going to be different due to COVID-19. Each one of us can play a part in helping to protect the most vulnerable among us through personal responsibility. We can do this with a few simple steps. Please keep COVID-19 protective measures in mind when planning your holiday.

“When you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, please continue to wear masks, physically distance, avoid large gatherings — especially gatherings with people you have not been in contact with recently. If you are out in the community wear a mask — especially when inside local businesses and restaurants. As I have said in the past, there are several ways to support our local restaurants and small businesses. Shopping with them is one and helping them to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask when you are inside their establishments is another.

“I continue to work to balance the health of our community with the health of our economy, and I ask each and every citizen to continue to work with me to achieve this balance. By protecting ourselves and one other, we can all contribute to our recovery. Please take personal responsibility as we enter into the holidays. Have a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving.”

www.stpgov.org

Increase in COVID Cases Seen Locally and Nationally – St. Tammany Health System

COVID UPDATE FOR NEIGHBORS from St. Tammany Parish Health System—11/16/2020

sths

All local residents should renew awareness and focus on containing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Today at St. Tammany Health System, 17 patients are in COVID care, an increase from 9 one week ago today. Our inpatient census is 131, and we have discharged 492 patients from COVID care since the pandemic began.

The nation surpassed 10 million cases last week and hit 11 million this week. Our local community is experiencing a spike as well with 8,931 cases to date in St. Tammany Parish according to Louisiana Department of Health. Halloween is believed to have sparked a significant increase in community spread, and Thanksgiving is seen as a potential next wave of exposure.

All residents are reminded as we head into winter, people spend more time indoors, increasing the risk of exposure to colds, flu and viruses, including COVID-19. STHS recommends everyone wear a mask, follow proper handwashing and cough etiquette and maintain your distance from others, particularly when you don’t feel well. It’s also important to protect yourself from the flu with a flu shot, which you can access through STHS Express Care and all STPN primary care clinics.

As part of our commitment to help you take excellent care of yourself, St. Tammany Health System has launched Health Check 365, including a special event at STHS Cordes Pavilion, 16300 Hwy 1085, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. For a single fee, participants receive a spectrum of health screenings including biometrics, carotid artery, sleep apnea, body composition plus screens for lung, skin, head and neck cancer. Appointments are necessary by calling 985-871-5932.

st. tammany health system
Local Events Non Profit Spotlight

Local Beer & Bites Crawl Supports Covington Boys & Girls Club – Tickets SOLD OUT

Published by:

boys and girls club
boys and girls club

Like many nonprofit organizations in the greater New Orleans area, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana and the youth they serve have been dramatically impacted by COVID-19. Our community continues to face unprecedented times, but your support can help kids that need critical support.

The Covington Boys & Girls Club has made several adjustments to adapt to changes since COVID, including wellness checks, free meals and virtual learning classes. With the help of various donors, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana have provided financial relief to families in need.
The Covington Boys & Girls Club is back open for afterschool programming, seeing about 22 children a day. They provide free meals for all Club members, both a snack and dinner, averaging about 220 meals per week. They are also still offering free meals to anyone experiencing food insecurity in the Covington area, whether they are involved in the Club or not.

This Wednesday, supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Covington is as easy as strolling around downtown Covington, tasting beer and eating bites. It’s the 4th Annual Oxtober Fest event with a twist – a Beer & Bites Stroll starting at the Covington Trailhead and meandering through the many participating local restaurants. The event benefits the Covington Boys & Girls Club.

Tickets are SOLD OUT for the inaugural Beer & Bites Stroll! If you didn’t get a chance to get them, you can still donate to the Covington Boys & Girls Club or learn how you can volunteer here.

Mayor Mark has this to say about the Boys & Girls Club:

“As we know, not all families in our community are able to offer strong parenting. Some children do not receive the structure, the values nor the attention that most of us did as youngsters. At or around the age of 9, 10 or 11, some of these children begin to receive more attention from the streets than from their family. By the age of 13, the bad guys have become their family. This is a bad thing.
“Here in Covington, we are blessed with a strong and active Boys and Girls Club. Our school buses drop students off directly from school. A snack, a safe place and some help with homework helps fill a gap. The Club becomes their family. This is a good thing.
“Sometimes supporting the community is as simple as buying the ticket, eating the eats and drinking the drinks. This Wednesday is one of those times.”

Local News Parish News

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Announces Bars May Re-open for On-Premises Consumption

Published by:

From St. Tammany Parish Government:

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper announces that bars may reopen in St. Tammany for on-premises consumption as of today, October 7, 2020, under Phase 3 guidelines as our percent positivity rate has fallen below 5% for two consecutive weeks. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, from 9/17 – 9/23, St. Tammany Parish had a Percent Positivity Rate of  3.5 %; and for the week of  9/24 – 9/30, 4.30 %. Cooper submitted an opt-in request to the Governor’s Office Tuesday, October 6, 2020 in anticipation of the percent positivity rate in St. Tammany falling below the required threshold for bars to reopen under Governor Edwards’ Phase 3 requirements, received official approval from the Louisiana State Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, and subsequently signed an amended Executive Order reflecting the change.

“Opening another sector of our economy is a big win for us, and for the businesses who will get to open their doors to the public again. We were set to proceed as quickly as possible to do so,” said Cooper. “As I have said since this pandemic began, my goal is to balance the health of the community with the health of our economy.”

Bars may open under the following guidelines:

  1. Bars may reopen and offer tableside service only. Standing and bar service will be prohibited.
  2. Indoor capacity shall be limited to a 25% occupancy rate or fifty (50) people, whichever is less.
  3. Outdoor capacity shall be limited to fifty (50) people and only for tableside service.
  4. Tables shall be spaced in accordance with SFM social distancing guidelines.
  5. Bars and other Class AG permit holders including daiquiri shops must cease all sale and service of alcoholic beverages and close no later than 11 P.M.
  6. No person under the age of twenty-one (21) shall be allowed on to the premises.
  7. Live music is prohibited.

See complete guidelines here.

Per Phase3 guidelines, if at any time St. Tammany Parish’s percent positivity rate subsequently exceed 10% positivity for two consecutive weeks, bars in St. Tammany Parish will then be closed for on-premises consumption, unless and until the percent positivity decreases to 5% or less for two consecutive weeks. www.stpgov.org

Local News

Statement From St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper on Moving to Phase 3

Published by:

Statement from St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper:

“Moving to Phase 3 is the right thing to do for us at this time, and we appreciate the Governor’s decision. I want to thank him for his for his continued leadership and his consideration of my formal request, as well as the resolutions put forth by the St. Tammany Parish Council and the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, requesting the ability to move forward. I have faith in our citizens that we will continue to take personal responsibility to do what is necessary to slow the spread and simultaneously support our local businesses. As I have said from the start of our emergency response to this pandemic, I want to balance the health of our community with the health of our economy,” Cooper said.

“We, as a community, have risen to the call, to take personal responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the health of our citizens — especially the most vulnerable. We want to begin to resume a sense of normalcy, and to strike the balance for the health of our economy.”

Visit www.stpgov.org for updates.

Local News

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Offers Support for Regional Recovery Phases

Published by:

From St. Tammany Parish Government:

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper has penned a personal letter to Governor John Bel Edwards asking him to consider regional implementation of COVID-19 recovery phases, in lieu of the current statewide implementation model. In addition, Cooper’s letter asks that the Governor make the criteria for any Parish to enter Phase 3 available to Parish leaders state-wide so that each region can base their decisions on phased re-openings using these criteria. This letter supports similar appeals to the Governor by the St. Tammany Parish Council as well as the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce.

“As I have said from the start of our emergency response to this pandemic, I want to balance the health of our community with the health of our economy. St. Tammany has risen to the call, as a community, to take personal responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the health of our citizens — especially the most vulnerable. We want to use this momentum to move into the next phase, to increase capacity in our small businesses and our restaurants, while keeping precautions in place so that our economy can begin to robustly recover. I have faith in our citizens that we will continue to take personal responsibility to do what is necessary to slow the spread and simultaneously support our local businesses. We want to begin to resume a sense of normalcy, and to strike the balance for the health of our economy.”

Cooper stresses that he wants safety protocols — wearing a mask in public, physically distancing, and practicing personal hygiene — to remain in place going forward. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, 90,230 tests have been administered in St. Tammany, with 6,220 total positive cases reported. This is a 6.89% positivity rate.

Visit www.stpgov.org for more updates.

Local News

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Free of COVID-19 Test Shows

Published by:

stp news

From St. Tammany Parish Government:

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper received negative results today, from his conventional COVID-19 test administered earlier this week, clearing him of a COVID-19 diagnosis. He plans to return to work in his office at Koop Drive next week.

“I want to thank everyone for their well-wishes while I was in quarantine. I am feeling much better and I am certainly looking forward to resuming my work routine and public activities,” Cooper said. “I feel strongly that quarantining — and following St. Tammany Parish Government COVID-19 protocol —was the responsible thing to do, and I appreciate the assistance of my staff while I worked from home during this period.”

Cooper self-quarantined — out of an abundance of caution — while he awaited medical clearance, after experiencing mild flu-like symptoms and a fever last weekend. He followed St. Tammany Parish Government COVID-19 protocols, as well as the advice of medical professionals.

Visit www.stpgov.org for more updates.

General Local News

St. Tammany Health System Earns A+ from Fitch Ratings

Published by:

COVINGTON – Fitch Ratings has affirmed the ‘A+’ Issuer Default Rating (IDR) for St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1, (St. Tammany Health System) with positive outlook.

According to Fitch, “the affirmation of the ‘A+’ rating reflects strong operating performance that has helped support solid liquidity and leverage metrics even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.”

Fitch further noted St. Tammany’s solid market share in a growing service area as well as its joint operating agreement with Ochsner Heath, which coordinates clinical services and operating income, supporting consistent volume and revenue growth.

The coronavirus pandemic figured into Fitch’s rating, as they note of STHS, “Fitch expects that the health system will continue to maintain a strong balance sheet despite pandemic-related pressures and ongoing capital projects, with leverage metrics that will remain consistent with the ‘aa’ category assessment throughout Fitch’s baseline scenario.”

STPH Board Chairman John Evans said, “STHS has worked hard to maintain our strong rating despite the pandemic and current economic outlook. Our board has been dedicated to position STHS for continued success into the future. This A+ Positive Outlook rating is one more step toward that goal.”

STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman added, “We are grateful to each and every colleague, physician, associate and partner that made this rating possible. Additionally, we thank Fitch for taking the time to understand our unique organization and our resolve to be good stewards of our resources in service of our mission caring for our community.”

Fitch has published a detailed explanation of the rating at https://www.fitchratings.com/research/us-public-finance/fitch-affirms-st-tammany-parish-hospital-service-dist-no-1-la-revs-at-a-outlook-positive-01-09-2020.

General Local News

St. Tammany Health System Weekly Update for Neighbors

Published by:

From the St. Tammany Parish Health System 08/24/2020

Today at St. Tammany Health System, 19 patients are in COVID care with census of 155, and 294 COVID cases discharged since the pandemic began. Please continue to do your part to slow the spread of COVID in our community by washing your hands, wearing a mask, staying six feet away from others and isolating yourself when you don’t feel well.

As we continue to care for our community for all patient needs, we are also watching the two tropical weather systems in the Gulf of Mexico. Please rest assured, your community health system is ready to care for you and your family regardless of the weather. Both emergency departments, the main hospital, all our clinics, diagnostic centers and programs are open as usual today and will continue to monitor weather conditions as the week progresses.

If you have an appointment or procedure later this week and have concerns about weather impeding your plans, please discuss your concerns with your physician’s office or connect with us at 985-898-4001 or 985-871-5665. You may prefer a video visit or a later scheduled procedure or appointment, as appropriate.

Learn more at: www.stph.org

CPD Updates Local News

CPD Update: City Court in Session Monday, Special Procedures

Published by:

From the Covington Police Department:

The Covington Police Department would like to inform the citizens of Covington that our City Court will be in session on Monday, August 24, 2020, at 3:00 PM. Also, due to COVID-19, the following procedures will be followed:

  • All persons present must wear a mask in the courtroom.
  • All persons entering the building will be required to answer the standardized COVID-19 screening questions and have their temperature checked. If anyone presents with a fever or answers yes to COVID-19 questions, they will immediately be reserved with a new court date and released before entering the courtroom.
  • Maximum occupancy in the courtroom will be 34 defendants to be called in alphabetically order for each docket.
  • All others will remain outside until their name is called to go before the Judge.
  • All Officers that are subpoenaed for trial will wait in the meeting room of the Council Chambers until needed to testify.
  • We will have someone outside to collect ticket payments if they would rather pay citations than appear in court.

This court session only applies to people who were issued a court date of August 24, 2020.

Local News

St. Tammany Health System COVID Update for Neighbors

Published by:

Update from the St. Tammany Health System:

Today at St. Tammany Health System, 21 patients are in COVID care with census of 143, and 283 COVID cases discharged since the pandemic began. Please continue to do your part by washing your hands, wearing a mask, staying six feet away from others and isolating yourself when you don’t feel well.

Most importantly, don’t delay care out of fear related to the presence of COVID-19 in our community. St. Tammany Health System is clean, safe and ready to care for you. Our patient Gary Kern recently experienced a heart attack, and he has a cautionary tale for the community, particularly those who may hesitate to seek care in the age of COVID-19. See his story on our website and all our social media channels.

Please keep doing your part to slow the spread of this disease. The CDC has this advice for proper care and wear for your mask. Thanks for doing your part to keep our community safe.

Learn more at the St. Tammany Health System website: www.stph.org/covid-19.

Local News

St. Tammany Parish 2020-2021 School Year Delayed Start

Published by:

The following is a statement from The St. Tammany Parish Public School System

The St. Tammany Parish Public School System has delayed the start of the 2020-2021 school year for students in grades Pre K-12. The 2020-2021 school year will now have a staggered start beginning August 11-14 to ensure safety protocols are in place and employees are trained and prepared for the learning model in place at that time.

“We are still making plans for how the beginning of the school year will look depending on the phase the state is in at that time,” said Interim Superintendent Pete Jabbia. “Our Safe Start Plan allows for teachers and support employees to have additional days to prepare for students before they return to school, whether it is in person, hybrid, or distance learning at that time. Our recent surveys of parents and employees showed a lot of people would be open to this option and it would help students, families, and employees feel more comfortable and prepared for the start of school.”

Students will begin their school year following the learning model in place at that time in a staggered approach in small groups to provide a safe and productive re-entry to school. August 11-14 will be “Safe Start Days” where one-fourth of students will report to school each day. This will be based on the first letter of their last name. On August 17, students will begin their regular school schedule, whether it is distance learning, hybrid, or in-person at that time.

All employees will report to work on their regular scheduled date. Teachers will return to school in person August 3-7 for professional development; Teachers Day is August 10.

Additional Teacher Professional Development Days will allow time for:

  • Training on safety protocols and distance learning
  • Prepare classrooms based on phased guidance
  • Prepare for implementation of new classroom/school procedures

Student Safe Start Days will allow time for:

  • Learning new in-person or distance learning routines and procedures
  • Administration of diagnostic tests and other assessments to determine unfinished learning
  • Daily bus counts to determine transportation needs if students return in person

As part of the revisions to the calendar, students will now report to school October 9 and March 12 for a half-day on the previously scheduled Professional Development/Record Keeping Days. All holidays remain intact and unchanged.

The revised calendar for the 2020-2021 school year is available at www.stpsb.org.

Learn more here.

Local News

COVID-19 Testing Coming to Northshore Parishes

Published by:

Baton Rouge, La – Residents of St. Tammany, Washington, Livingston, Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes will have more local options for COVID-19 testing. In partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Public Health and local parish governments, Louisiana National Guard will be operating mobile testing sites will make it more convenient for Northshore residents to get a test.

Mobile testing uses trucks and equipment operated by the Louisiana National Guard to bring testing kits to neighborhood locations such as schools, churches, retail stores, parks and other local neighborhood locations.

Dr. Gina Lagarde, the Office of Public Health regional medical director for the five-parish region, said, “This partnership greatly increases testing opportunity for residents, especially in the rural and unincorporated areas of these parishes.”

“Several hospitals and other community testing sites in our region have offered COVID-19 tests that have helped us to understand the prevalence of the coronavirus in our region,” Dr. Lagarde said. “We are now working to increase the number of test sites, to bring the sites closer to where people live, shop and visit during a typical day, and serve those communities that have may have been under served or could not access a central test site.”

Starting Tuesday, May 26, the mobile testing units and Louisiana National Guard testing personnel will visit different sites in St. Tammany, Washington, Livingston, Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes. Testing will last for four weeks, through June 19, 2020.

Testing Dates and Sites
ST. TAMMANY PARISH WEEK 1 – WEEK 4

Monday 6/1/2020
Mandeville St. Tammany
Community Center 3101 East Causeway Approach

Tuesday 6/2/2020
Mandeville St. Tammany
Community Center 3101 East Causeway Approach

Wednesday 6/3/2020
Mandeville St. Tammany
Church of the Kings 22205 Little Creek Road

Thursday 6/4/2020
Mandeville St. Tammany
Premier Center (Tentative) LA 190 and North Causeway Blvd.

Friday 6/5/2020
LaCombe St. Tammany
Recreation District #461100 N. 12th St.

Monday 6/8/2020
Madisonville St. Tammany
Ball Park 1007 Pine St.

Tuesday 6/8/2020
Madisonville St. Tammany
Ball Park 1007 Pine St.

Wednesday 6/10/2020
Madisonville St. Tammany
Coquille Recreation Center (Tentative) 13505 LA 1085

Thursday 6/11/2020
Folsom St. Tammany
Fendlason Community Center 13296 LA 40

Friday 6/12/2020
Float St. Tammany

Monday 6/15/2020
Covington St. Tammany
Pinnacle Mall (Tentative) 7205 Pinnacle Parkway

Tuesday 6/16/2020
Covington St. Tammany
Planet Fitness (Tentative) 401 N. LA 190

Wednesday 6/17/2020
Covington St. Tammany
Fair Ground1301 N. Columbia St.

Thursday 6/18/2020
Abita Springs St. Tammany
Recreation Center 22517 LA 36

Friday 6/19/2020
Abita Springs St. Tammany
Recreation Center 22517 LA 36

Local News

Gov. Edwards Announces Phase 2 Re-Opening

Published by:

Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that following continued improvement in Louisiana’s COVID-19 outlook and a significant increase in testing capacity and contact tracing, Louisiana is ready to move to Phase 2 of the White House’s reopening strategy on June 5.

Gov. Edwards will sign the official order for Phase 2 of a Resilient Louisiana by Thursday evening, with guidance being issued to individual industries and businesses via the OpenSafely.la.gov website throughout the week. In Phase 2, churches, places of worship and many more businesses will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity with social distancing, masks for public-facing employees and increased sanitation. In addition, the state strongly recommends that businesses consider offering temperature checks before a person can enter and posting the symptoms of COVID-19 outside with a request that symptomatic individuals not enter.

The Governor was advised by public health experts that Louisiana has seen decreasing reports of COVID-like illness, decreasing new case counts especially as a percentage of tests administered, and decreasing hospitalizations in almost every area of the state. A few areas of concern still exist, but through contact tracing and frequent testing, the state is able to quickly track increases and work to prevent large outbreaks.

  • Click here to view the data from the Office of Public Health used to make the re-opening decision.

Phase 2 in Louisiana will last at least 21 days. Because more businesses will be open to more patrons and because the CDC has clarified that the illness is most likely to spread through the air and not on surfaces, the order will strongly encourage individuals to wear masks whenever they are in public and will recommend that people who enter businesses that are not taking proper precautions consider the risk to their health and their family in doing so.

“The people of Louisiana have done an incredible job flattening the curve here, and I’m thankful for their compliance and hard work. Likewise, the state has matched their efforts by ramping up both testing and contact tracing. All of this has allowed us to get to a place where we can move into Phase 2 on Friday,” Gov. Edwards said. “However, as more people are out and about and occupancy increases and even more businesses operate, members of the public should be cautious as they enter businesses and leave any place that is not taking precautions against the spread of COVID-19, especially if employees interacting with the public are not wearing masks and customers are not being encouraged to do so as well. We know most business owners want to go above and beyond to make their patrons feel safe. I hope the people of Louisiana will support these businesses that are doing the right thing to protect their customers and employees.”

“In addition, people who are at high risk for becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, including those over 65 and those with underlying health conditions, should still Stay at Home unless they are completing essential tasks, such as doctor visits or going to purchase medications, food or other necessary items. Everyone should consider their own risk and the risk of those in their households as they plan their public outings. There are still thousands of active COVID-19 cases in Louisiana and public health experts have increased warnings about asymptomatic people being able to spread the illness unknowingly.”

OVERVIEW OF BUSINESSES THAT CAN OPEN:

Businesses that will be able to open at 50 percent occupancy include:

  • Restaurants, cafes and coffee shops
  • Shopping malls (including food courts, following restaurant guidance)
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • Barber and beauty shops and nail salons
  • Movie theaters
  • Racetracks (not open to spectators)
  • Museums (including children’s museums), zoos, aquariums (no tactile exhibits)
  • Bars and breweries with LDH food permits
  • Massage establishments, spas, and tattoo establishments (under strict guidance from LDH), esthetician services (under strict guidance from the Cosmetology Board)
  • Pool halls, bowling alleys and skating rinks (children must be accompanied by an adult)
  • Event Centers and wedding venues
  • Outdoor playgrounds and play centers (children must be accompanied by an adult)

Casinos and video poker establishments may open at 50 percent occupancy, but limited to 75 percent of their gaming positions, with spacing to allow for social distancing and with enhanced sanitation. Plans must be submitted to the Gaming Control Board which will issue guidance to these facilities.

Bars and breweries that do not have LDH food permits will be able to open with strict social distancing requirements and patrons seated at 25 percent occupancy.

Arcades and trampoline parks may open under approved plans by the State Fire Marshal, with minors accompanied by parents.

Summer camps were allowed to open with restrictions in Phase One, and additional guidance will be issued. Sleep-away camps are not allowed in Phase Two.

The following businesses remain closed: carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, fairs, contact sports, children’s indoor play centers, theme parks, concert and music halls, and other similar businesses. Live entertainment is not permitted inside any building or indoor function.

The Governor encourages businesses that can allow employees to work remotely to consider doing so, especially if an employee is at high risk for becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 or shares a household with a high risk person.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:                                                

  • Business and faith leaders can visit OpenSafely.la.gov to receive guidance and updates from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Louisiana Department of Health. Businesses that require approval of reopening plans will be notified by the State Fire Marshal’s Office or the Louisiana Department of Health.
  • For a guide listing businesses that can be open at any given time, visit gov.louisiana.gov/page/can-this-business-open.
  • Members of the public can continue to get information from the Governor’s office by visiting Coronavirus.la.gov and by texting LACOVID to 67283.
  • Members of the public can continue to get information from the Department of Health by visiting ldh.la.gov/coronavirus.
  • People with general questions about COVID-19 in Louisiana can call 211.