Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo held a press briefing Monday(March 23)morning underscoring the increasing danger of the coronavirus and the effect that it is having in Ouachita Parish and the city of Monroe. Mayo is urging citizens in the city to heed Gov. John Bel Edwards’ directive for citizens to stay at home beginning at 5 p.m. on March 23. Edwards and Mayo want two things to happen: (1) that there be a reduction in crowd size, hopefully reducing the chance of further exposure and infections, and (2) social distancing where people simply stay at home, minimizing even further contact when it is not needed. The number of confirmed cases in Louisiana has increased dramatically to 1,388 and rising as of press time with 46 deaths reported. Deaths confirmed at local hospitals within the city limits of Monroe and West Monroe may only add to the fears already being experience by some that the virus, once told by members of President Trump’s administration that the virus would soon be over, or that it had been “contained”, is not very comforting to those not yet infected. Mayo warned the public to play its part by reminding citizens that “we all have a role to play” to help flatten(reduce the number of infections through less contact) the curve, because some can be walking around with the virus and not know it. Mayo ended by saying, “that it is a matter of public health”, and to take the governor’s directives seriously.

The coronavirus is also affecting how the Monroe Fire Department will respond to emergency calls. At the briefing, Fire Chief Terry Williams said that after much thought, and getting recommendations and consulting with his senior staff, services of the EMS department will be suspended until further notice. Williams said that it was a heartbreaking decision because by sending out EMS personnel, they were being put in danger of being exposed to the virus. “We go out on calls day and night”, said Williams. “But we don’t have the proper protective equipment needed from being exposed to people that we respond to, where that could lead to the public being exposed”. Williams said that Acadian Ambulance will respond in the department’s place because they have the equipment, and have a good respond time for handling emergencies. But Williams said the fire department will still respond to “fire related and technical rescue calls and automobile accidents”, especially if there is need to extricate someone from a vehicle. Williams said that “he is confident” that Acadian will do a good job.