Louisiana ranks 10th in fight against Coronavirus
14th April 2020 · 0 Comments
By Meghan Holmes
Contributing Writer
A new report released on March 24 ranks Louisiana as the 10th most aggressive state in the fight against the Coronavirus. The Web site WalletHub, which offers free credit scores, credit reports, and financial advice, compiled the data using 46 unique metrics ranging from tested cases of COVID-19 per capita and state legislation on the pandemic, to the uninsured population and share of the workforce in affected industries.
The report also looks at how the economy will fare after the virus, finding that Louisiana will be hard-hit compared to other states.
“Unfortunately the economic impact this health crisis will have on Louisiana is among the largest. This is mostly because more than half of the state’s employment comes from small businesses, and the state’s rainy day fund balance is one of the lowest in the country,” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez.
To determine state rankings, analysts created three categories of metrics: prevention and containment, risk factors and infrastructure, and economic impact. Louisiana ranked seventh in the prevention and containment category.
“Louisiana has a large number of emergency centers and services per capita, and has taken several measures to prevent the virus from spreading, including restricting travel, banning gatherings of 10 or more participants, closing schools, and even activating the National Guard. Louisiana has also closed bars and restaurants, imposed a mandatory quarantine, and passed legislation responding to COVID-19. Legislative sessions have been postponed throughout the state, residents can get early prescription refills, and the interviews for SNAP quality control are currently conducted over the phone instead of face-to-face,” Gonzalez said.
The state did not fare well in WalletHub’s other two categories, ranking 41st in “risk factors and infrastructure” and 43rd in “overall economic impact.” Risk factors considered in the study include influenza and pneumonia death rates, infectious disease rates, poverty rates, average life expectancy, population density, and the percentage of the population at risk.
Metrics to measure the health crisis’ economic impact in the study looked at the state’s unemployment rate, rainy day fund, percentage of small businesses, and share of the workforce working in the accommodation, food services, arts, entertainment, recreation and transit industries.
Louisiana has seen a steady increase in Coronavirus cases over the last two weeks, with 2,305 reported cases and 83 deaths as of March 26. More than 17,000 people have been tested. There are 676 people in hospitals around the state, and 239 of those are on respirators.
Governor Edwards issued a stay-at-home order for all the state’s residents effective March 23.
“In Louisiana, we have taken aggressive measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve; however, this is not enough. As our number of cases continue to grow, I am directing all Louisianans to stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary for you to leave. I am implementing this measure to help prevent you from becoming infected or infecting someone else. People can leave their homes to do essential things like buying groceries or food, pick up medicine or go to work only if their job is essential. If you have to go out, make sure you practice social distancing measures and keep 6 feet between you and the people around you. People are encouraged to go outside and to stay active during this time, as long as they practice social distancing when they are around their neighbors,” Gov. Edwards said. “This order is not something I take lightly, but it is necessary to protect the health, safety and well-being of our people, our communities and our way of life.”
The state-wide order is in effect until April 12, and could be extended as the number of cases grows by the day, particularly in Orleans Parish, where 997 people have the virus and 46 have died, as of the time of the publication of this story.
“Our data shows April 7 is the benchmark for hospital capacity,” New Orleans mayor Latoya Cantrell said in an announcement that the city’s convention center would serve as a temporary surge hospital to treat less-critical COVID-19 patients on March 26.
WalletHub initially released data detailing state’s responses to the Coronavirus on March 16, and updated their findings on March 23. In that time frame, Louisiana moved up 12 spots from 22nd to 10th, in large part because of measures state and local governments have taken to mitigate the virus’ spread. Gonzales said the website plans to continue updating its findings as the crisis unfolds and new information becomes available.
This article originally published in the April 13, 2020 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
