UPDATED: Info, resources and tips to support NOLA's front-line healthcare heroes and reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19)

IMPORTANT: Please remain cautious and follow regular updates and guidelines published by the New Orleans Health Department, the Louisiana Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the latest news and information and resources.

- by Juan J. Gershanik, MD, president, Orleans Parish Medical Society -

NEW ORLEANS, LA (UPDATED - 12:00 PM, May 22, 2020) - Mayor Latoya Cantrell said last week that New Orleans began its Phase 1 reopening on Saturday, May 16, 2020, allowing most businesses to reopen in a limited capacity. Orleans Parish has joined Jefferson Parish and the rest of Louisiana in easing stay-at-home orders.

After examining downward trends of hospitalizations and new cases per-capita and consulting with state and federal health officials, Governor John Bel Edwards felt that it was safe to begin the reopening process. Governor Edwards lifted the stay-at-home order today, Friday, May 15, as Louisiana moved to phase one of reopening based on the White House’s 'Guidelines for Opening Up America Again'. 

Much has been said about the coronavirus (COVID-19) through various local and national media platforms over the past couple of months. Presumably, 26,249 (as of 5/17/20, up 3,641 from 5/10/20) people have now recovered from COVID-19 in Louisiana to-date. Unfortunately, a vaccination has not yet been created to defend against the virus.

As of 12 PM today, 5/22/20, 36,925 positive cases (up 421 from 5/21/20) and 2,545 deaths (+39) from #COVID19 have been reported by the Louisiana Department of Health. There are now 867 hospitalized (down 17 from 5/21/20) and 104 on ventilators (down 3 from 5/21/20) in Louisiana as a result of the #coronavirus. As of 5/22/20, 14,217 confirmed cases (+138) have been reported in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes.

Louisiana Department of Health - Coronavirus Dashboard

Tips to help reduce the spread of COVID-19

Although the young and healthy might simply experience symptoms similar to the common cold, they are the people who will carry and spread the disease to the more challenged. So, please stay informed. By taking several precautions, hopefully we can continue to control the spread of the virus.

Here are some steps to follow indicated by the Louisiana Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) going forward:

• Please obey all social distancing guidelines.

• Wear a mask in public places. When you wear a mask, you're protecting others. When others wear a mask, they're protecting you.
• Cover your cough or sneeze into your shirt sleeve or preferably a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
• Wash your hands regularly scrubbing thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and preferably warm water. If soap and water are not readily available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Wash your hand towels often.
• Avoid shaking hands by using alternative forms of greetings.
• If possible, avoid touching your face (eyes, nose and mouth).
• If possible, use a paper towel to touch restroom door handles on the way out.
• Clean and disinfect the most commonly touched surfaces in homes and offices regularly, especially shared spaces like countertops, remote controls, refrigerator, door handles and house phones.

More from the Louisiana Department of Health: ldh.la.gov

Take care of yourself and avoid spreading any illness to others. If you believe you might have a virus, seek medical care. The New Orleans Department of Health, Louisiana Department of Health and the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention share clear guidelines for exactly how and when to seek medical attention early in the disease’s course. Containment measures of the coronavirus depend on early detection and isolation of people at the beginning of their infectious stage.

Info from the Centers For Disease Control: cdc.gov/covid19

For more information on coronavirus (COVID-19):

Visit www.cdc.gov, www.ldh.la.gov and www.nola.gov/health for more information about the coronavirus (COVID-19), resources that are now available and how to keep from catching and spreading it.

?PHYSICIAN RESOURCES:

Over 250 physicians, residents and medical students registered for the 'COVID-19 All Physician UPDATE Conference Call' co-sponsored by Orleans Parish Medical Society and Jefferson Parish Medical Society on March 24, 2020. This was the first of at least three teleconferences to be presented by OPMS and JPMS. Last night's teleconference featured updates and Q&A with Joseph Kanter, MD, MPH, Assistant State Health Officer, and Marcus Bachhuber, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Medicaid, Louisiana Department of Health.

Around 500 physicians registered for our March 31st teleconference which featured updates, presentations and Q&A by Dr. Kanter, Lee Engel, MD, PhD, LSU Medical School, Infectious Diseases; Gregory Sossoman, MD, Ochsner Health, Pathology; John Schieffelin, MD, MSPH, Tulane University School of Medicine, Pediatric & Adult Infectious Disease; and Jon Michael Cuba, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Ochsner Health, Emergency Medicine.

Close to 350 physicians registered for the April 7th all-physicians teleconference which featured presentations and Q&A by: Dr. Kanter; David Janz, MD, MSc, assistant profession of medicine, pulmonary/critical care and allergy/immunology, and Julio Figueroa, MD, profession of medicine, chief of infectious diseases, LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans. Additionally, physicians on the call were provided with business and legal updates and Q&A that included: liability, telehealth, employment law and stimulus packages.

Near 300 physicians registered for the April 14th, 7:00 PM teleconference. The 4th all-physician call featured updates and clinical presentations from Jennifer Avegno, MD, medical director, New Orleans Health Department; Dahlene Fusco, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine, adjunct assistant professor of tropical medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, and Meredith Clement, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine, infectious diseases, LSUHSC, provided an update on infectious disease clinical trials; Stacy Drury, MD, PhD, associate professor, psychiatry, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, provided a behavioral health update; Sonia Malhotra, MD, MS, FAAP, director palliative medicine & supportive care, assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine and LSU School of Medicine, provided information on palliative care and medical ethics.

Another 300 physicians registered for the 5th 'COVID-19 All-Physician UPDATE' teleconference on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. It featured presentations, updates and Q&A with Dr. Joseph Kanter, Louisiana Department of Health; Katherine Williams, MD, president, Louisiana State Medical Society, Katherine L. Baumgarten, MD, medical director, infection control and prevention, Ochsner Health; and Thomas LaVeist, PhD, dean, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine.   

Orleans and Jefferson Parish Medical Societies hosted a 6th weekly 'COVID-19 All-Physician UPDATE' on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 7 PM. The teleconference featured updates and Q&A with Dr. Kanter, David Janz, MD, Msc, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary/Critical Care & Allergy/Immunology, LSUHSC and Medical Director, Intensive Care Unit, University Medical Center; and Gregory Sossaman, MD, System Chair, Pathology, Ochsner Health.

Last night, May 5, 2020, 7 PM, OPMS and JPMS hosted a 7th 'COVID-19 All-Physician UPDATE' teleconference. It featured presentations, updates and Q&A with:

• Courtney Phillips, PhD, new Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health, and Joseph Kanter, MD, MPH, Region I, Assistant State Health Officer, Louisiana Department of Health;
• Julia Garcia-Diaz, MD, Director, Clinical Research Division, Ochsner Health, and Meredith Clement, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Infectious Diseases, LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, and Dahlene Fusco, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor Medicine, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, will provide an update on clinical trials;
• and John Barry, MPH, Adjunct Professor and Historian, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and author of ‘The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History’, will provide a historical perspective. 

The goal of these 'COVID-19 All-Physician UPDATE Conference Calls' is to provide physicians in our community an opportunity to access the must updated information about COVID-19 from the Louisiana Department of Health in a clear and consistent manner which will help physicians effectively communicate with, screen and refer patients appropriately.

Orleans Parish Medical Society and Jefferson Parish Medical Society work collaboratively with physicians and healthcare leaders to improve health and the practice of medicine for physicians and their patients throughout the Greater New Orleans Area. For additional information about their collaborative efforts visit www.opms.org, www.jpms.org and www.jpms-opms.org.

PHYSICIANS: Click below for the American Medical Association's 'Physician's Guide To COVID-19':