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LAPLACE — As of the Wednesday update from the Louisiana Department of Health, there have been 118 reported cases of COVID-19 and 13 deaths in St. John the Baptist Parish.

On Tuesday, there were 104 recorded cases and 12 deaths in St. John Parish.

St. John has the third-highest number of fatalities, behind Orleans and Jefferson parishes.

As of Wednesday at noon, St. Charles Parish has 82 reported cases and seven deaths, while St. James has 86 reported cases and four deaths.

Statewide, there are 6,424 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 60 parishes. Only four Louisiana parishes have not reported cases. There have been 273 deaths, up 34 from Tuesday. The first death in the state was reported on March 14.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, there are 1,498 COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the state. Of these patients, 490 are on ventilators.

This data is updated daily at noon.

During a press conference Monday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced plans to extend school closures and restrictions on large gatherings until April 30. This decision, which will go into effect at the end of the week, is in line with President Donald Trump’s recent recommendation that non-essential businesses and all public gatherings remain shut down through the end of April.

On Wednesday morning, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre announced a curfew on all residents, beginning at 9 p.m. April 1.The curfew will run every day from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. due to the imminent threat to the life and health of citizens of St. John Parish by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tregre said.

Essential workers are exempt from the curfew and can travel to and from work during curfew hours.  Essential businesses are also allowed to stay open past the start of the curfew.

St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard and Congressman Cedric Richmond will hold a Coronavirus Tele-Town Hall at 7:15 p.m. tonight (April 1).

To participate, please call 855-962-1478 or join the live stream link at https://video.teleforumonline.com/video/streaming.php?client=19326