The COVID-19 pandemic hit hitting New Orleans at a greater pace than other hot spots in the country. At the time of this writing, there have been 392 cases reported and 10 deaths reported.
There are city and state restrictions in place regarding the closing of businesses in order to help stop the spread of the disease.
Restrictions in Louisiana and New Orleans
Louisiana has already been placing restrictions on residents as a result of having over 392 cases across the state. Further, there are over 249 of those cases located in Orleans Parish.
The state is doing all that it can in order to slow the spread of the virus. Businesses and restaurants have been shutting down, not only in New Orleans but also in other major cities. Schools have been closed through the middle of April while telling parents to prepare for the possibility of not re-opening until the new school year.
The mayor of New Orleans has been telling residents to avoid close contact with other people. There’s an emphasis on social distancing. Further, the city has been canceling or rescheduling events that involve public gatherings.
Restaurants are limited to takeout, delivery, or drive-through. Indoor and outdoor dining is prohibited across the state. Officers are even patrolling the streets to ensure that businesses are complying with the restrictions.
With so many restrictions in place, it’s designed to reduce the number of cases. Right now, the number of cases throughout Louisiana is still on the rise. New Orleans and Louisiana are part of the national crisis, and President Trump has identified the coronavirus as a national emergency.
The People Being Impacted the Greatest
We know that they elderly and immunosuppressed are at the greatest risk of contracting COVID-19 but according to the Centers for Disease Control, 38% of the people hospitalized with the disease are under the age of 55.
The Lambeth House, a premier retirement community located in Uptown New Orleans has been hit hard by COVID-19. There have been five deaths from this community already – and much of it has to do with the number of at-risk individuals who live there. Those who are over the age of 80 and who have compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk of death if diagnosed with the coronavirus. As such, Lambeth House and many other retirement and nursing homes are closing their doors to guests to minimize exposure.
The Various Cases
There’s no doubt that people are going stir-crazy. It’s causing people to break out of their social distancing period early. There are also many people who are still not taking the pandemic seriously – and they’re often the ones responsible for exposing others to the virus.
The City of Clearwater in Florida kept their beaches open, allowing thousands of spring breakers onto the beach. College-aged students packed onto the shores, not caring at all about the warnings of social distancing.
Many churches are canceling service, though there are still cities that are ignoring the suggestions to limit crowds to 10. In Denver, a pastor tested positive for COVID-19. As far as the number of people he could have infected prior to getting medical attention, it’s unknown. This has caused several pastors to re-think what they are doing and have moved to online sermons.
With so many people being impacted, no one is safe. It’s wreaking havoc on the economy, too, which is why there are so many people willing to take a chance out in the streets – and these are the people who are increasing the number of outbreaks.
Negligent Exposure Risks
Countless restrictions are in place to ensure that people are being protected. These restrictions are in place not only from the government but also from corporations. Many people are doing what they can to prevent the spread of the virus and to start to reduce the number of new cases being found daily.
Some of the ways to reduce risks include:
- Washing hands
- Using sanitizer
- Practicing social distancing
- Surveying symptoms of people
Unfortunately, there are instances where businesses are being negligent. They’re allowing people into crowded areas despite hearing people walk through who are coughing or exhibiting signs of a fever or other symptoms associated with COVID-19. They’re not supplying sanitizer stations. Their employees are not washing their hands as they should be.
Whenever the protocols aren’t being followed, it puts you at risk of being exposed to the coronavirus. When you go into various establishments, you expect the businesses to follow the rules to protect their customers. However, when they’re negligent, your risks of exposure are increased.
If you’ve been impacted by COVID-19 due to negligent exposure of a business, contact Allan Berger & Associates today at 504-526-2222.
