JEFFERSON PARISH AIMS TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN THE COMMUNITY

JEFFERSON,LA – On Friday, March 13, 2020, Governor John Bel Edwards signed a proclamation that among other actions immediately halts anygathering of more than 250 people until Monday, April 13 and closes all K-12public schools statewide effective Monday, March 16 resuming Monday, April 13,as Louisiana seeks to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state. As ofmid-day Friday, Louisiana has 36 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19.

JeffersonParish officials continue to closely monitorthis outbreak and are in close communication with the CDC and the LouisianaDepartment of Public Health, along with other local, regional and nationalemergency service agencies and partners. According to Parish PresidentCynthia Lee Sheng, “We are in the mitigation phase and now is the time for usto take proactive and bold steps to minimize the spread of the virus in ourcommunity and protect the health and safety of the people of Jefferson Parishfrom the risk of COVID-19.”

As a response to the Governor’s announcement, JeffersonParish officials are taking the following proactive measures to ensure thehealth and safety of Parish employees and the general public:

• All Jefferson Parish permitted social activities regardless of size are suspended, until further notice. 
• All JPRD activities will be suspended, until further notice.
• All non-essential and social senior activities in Jefferson Parish are suspended, until further notice; however, food distribution will continue.
• All events at Jefferson Parish facilities will be canceled and postponed, until further notice; this includes events at the Jefferson Parish Libraries, Jefferson Parish Animal Shelters, Alario Center and Jefferson Performing Arts Society.
• All non-essential programming at Jefferson Parish Community Centers, Senior Centers and Head Start Centers are suspended, until further notice.
• There will be limited public access to all Jefferson Parish Government facilities for essential functions to reduce the amount of face-to-face public interaction.
• All essential Jefferson Parish Departments will continue operations of services during this period.

The Jefferson Parish Transit Department will continueservice and is working alongside Transdev and health and security officials, aswell as industry leaders for updates and best practices regarding theCoronavirus. The Transit Department’s action plan includes increasingsanitization efforts, which includes daily cleaning of all 41 buses and 20paratransit vehicles; mounting hand sanitizer dispensers to all Buses andParatransit vehicles next week; regular announcements on all buses and on everyroute to “Wash Hands Often” in both English and Spanish; and a plan foradjusted levels of service and routes, as needed.

COVID-19 symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness ofbreath or difficulty breathing. The CDC believes at this time that symptoms mayappear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. People whothink they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcareprovider immediately; the CDC recommends that you call ahead, which will helpthe healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from gettinginfected or exposed.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The bestway to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as areminder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alwaysrecommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread ofrespiratory diseases, including:

• Cover your cough.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, or with a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
• Avoid close contact (within six feet) with those who are sick.

Citizens looking forinformation about COVID-19 can dial 211 or text the keyword LACOVID to 898-211for the most current information about the outbreak as it becomes available.Jefferson Parish residents can also text JPALERT to 888-777 for real-time localupdates. For updates on the state’s response to the coronavirus situation,visit LDH.louisiana.gov/Coronavirus. Additional resources are also availablefrom the CDC at www.coronavirus.gov/.

Formore information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net. Residents can also receive regular updatesby following the Parish on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@JeffParishGov).

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