Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2020-03-20

Duration: 00:20:05

Subjects: Public health | COVID-19 pandemic | Coronaviruses | Graves, Todd | Honore, Russel L.

Contributors:

• Moreau, Andre Host
• Williams, Natasha Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Crews, Keith Photographer
• Edwards, John Bel Speaker
• Nijoka, Monica Interviewee
• Graves, Todd Interviewee
• Broome, Sharon Weston Speaker
• Honore, Russel Interviewee
• Smith, Jeanne Speaker

This segment from the March 20, 2020, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Andre Moreau and Natasha Williams reporting on the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Moreau first reports on the week’s headlines. Next, Williams’ presents highlights of a recent press conference with Governor John Bel Edwards expressing his concerns that the spread of COVID-19 will soon outpace the state’s health care capacity. Moreau then visits the Baton Rouge General Medical Center Test Site. He interviews Monica Nijoka, the chief nursing officer, who discusses the partnership between all of the medical facilities in Baton Rouge in running the COVID-19 testing site and the procedures that people need to follow in order to get tested. Next, Williams presents producer Kevin Gautreaux’s report on the impact of the COVID-19 shutdown on businesses in Louisiana. His report includes an interview with Todd Graves, the owner of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, and highlights of a press conference with East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome. Moreau then interviews retired Lieutenant General Russel Honore, who discusses the lessons learned from the Spanish Flu pandemic and how the military can assist with the response to the coronavirus pandemic. Lastly, Jeanne Smith, an LPB employee, gives an update on her return home from Italy.