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The number of Louisiana coronavirus cases grew by 22 between mid-morning and early evening Monday, and Gov. John Bel Edwards took additional measures Monday to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana,

The governor lowered the limit on gatherings to 50 people, closing casinos, bars and movie theaters and limiting restaurants to delivery, take out and drive-through orders only. These changes are effective statewide at midnight.

Operations may be able to resume on April 13, but the situation will be reevaluated seven days prior. In Louisiana, there are 136 cases of COVID-19 and three people have died. The third victim, an 84-year-old resident of Lambeth House in New Orleans, died Monday afternoon. Edwards said 12 positive tests for COVID-19 have been among residents of Lambeth House.

A total of 374 Louisiana people had been tested as of 5:30 p.m. Monday. No positive tests have been reported in St. Mary, St. Martin or Assumption, but two cases each have been reported in Terrebonne and Lafourche.

The majority of cases continue to come from New Orleans, but 11 parishes have reported positive tests.

Edwards said the stronger precautions were put in place after a 90-minute phone call bringing together governors, President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet.

"When we look at what has worked to stop the spread of COVID-19," Edwards said at a press conference Monday, "it's protective action that creates social distance because we know the virus spreads easily and swiftly."

“What we’re learning is that it can take two weeks for symptoms to appear," Edwards said in a press release. "We believe we are still unearthing community spread that’s been around for the past several weeks, which means it is a statewide problem that requires statewide solutions.'

The governor will update his public health emergency proclamation to include the following:

Gatherings are limited to no more than 50 people.
Casinos and bars will be closed.
Restaurants will be closed to patrons eating on site. Take-out, drive-through and delivery orders are allowed.
Movie theaters will be closed.

After the St. Mary School Board finally found a resolution likely to get its proposed sales tax on the May 9 ballot, the May 9 election has been postponed.
The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office says the May 9 municipal elections have been postponed until July 25 as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
As of Monday morning, the tax proposition was still on the agenda for a meeting of the Louisiana State Bond Commission’s Ad Hoc Subcommittee. Bond Commission approval is required for the proposition to go before voters.
The School Board passed its original resolution in December, calling for a May 9 vote on a half-cent sales tax to pay for raises for teachers and other staff members and to create a fund for technology enhancements. The tax proposition requires approval from the Louisiana State Bond Commission.
The tax would have raised $4.25 million a year to finance a $3,000 annual raise for teachers and a $1,500 raise for noncertified staff members. Proponents said the raises are needed to make St. Mary Parish competitive in attracting and retaining good teachers.
Opposition centered on the tax hike’s impact on St. Mary’s economy. State Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, also objected to the lack of a sunset provision in the tax proposal and the size of the increase. He suggested that a 0.3% tax would be more palatable to voters.
The Bond Commission deferred action on the tax proposal Feb. 20. At a March 3 special meeting, the School Board added a five-year limit on the tax, after which voters would have to renew.
Then, in the face of continuing objections, the School Board changed the resolution again at its Thursday regular meeting, eliminating the dedication to technology and reducing the size of the sales tax proposal to 0.45%.
Allain told The Daily Review on Friday that he wouldn’t oppose placing the reduced tax proposal on the May 9 ballot. Later Friday, Gov. John Bel Edwards’ executive order on coronavirus precautions led to the postponement of the April 4 presidential preference primary and the May 9 election.
At one point, Allain said that if the School Board continued to insist on a half-cent tax, he’d hold out for a tax vote to coincide with the Nov. 3 presidential election. Turnout is expected to be greater in November.
But School Board members said the May 9 election was important because it would allow the administration to have raises and funding in place as it recruited teachers for the 2020-21 school year.

COMMUNITY CONCERT
Featuring Celtic Angels set for Tuesday, March 17, at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns and state mandated regulations.

CANCELLATIONS
And postponements include the Basin Brew Fest set March 21 in downtown Morgan City and Songs of the Bayou Songwriter’s Festival set at various venues March 25-29.

An Amelia man has been accused of drunken driving and trying to flee the scene of a single-vehicle crash, all with a suspended license, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair said.
—John Franklin Vandercook, 49, Arnold Street, Amelia, was arrested at 12:02 a.m. Friday on charges of careless operation, hit and run, driving under suspension, possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and first-offense driving while intoxicated.
Officers were called to a crash on La. 70. Officers observed a vehicle leaving the area with damage consistent with being involved in a crash.
Officers stopped the vehicle on Seventh Street and identified the driver as Vandercook. During the investigation, it was learned Vandercook had struck a traffic sign in the area of Lake End Park, and his driver’s license was under suspension.
Officers located an open alcoholic beverage in the vehicle and suspected driver impairment. A field sobriety test was given and John F. Vandercook did poorly on the test.
He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department. He was given an intoxilyzer test and submitted a breath sample of .210g%. He was booked and incarcerated at the Morgan City Police Department.
Blair reported that over the 24-hour reporting period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 49 calls of service and made these arrests:
—Kevin B. Lynch, 48, First Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:16 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for three counts of failure to appear.
Lynch was located at the Patterson Police Department and placed under arrest on active warrants held by the City Court of Morgan City. He was transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Jessie Lee Comeaux Jr., 26, Levee Road, Morgan City was arrested early Friday on charges of improper lane usage and first-offense driving while intoxicated.
Officers observed a traffic violation on U.S. 90 and conducted the traffic stop. The driver was identified as Comeaux. During the traffic stop, the officer suspected driver impairment.
A field sobriety test was given and Comeaux did poorly on the test. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department. He was given an intoxilyzer test and submitted a breath sample of .165%. He was booked and incarcerated at the Morgan City Police Department.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said his office responded to 36 complaints in the reporting period and made these arrests:
—Lakeisha Marie Rhine, 22, North Frazier Street, Conroe, Texas, was arrested at 9:57 a.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of disturbing the peace by fighting. Rhine was released on a summons to appear June 29.
—Victor Mark Berthelot Jr., 41, La. 182, Franklin, was arrested at 3:17 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of battery of a dating partner. No bail has been set.
—Sadie Elizabeth Percle, 27, La. 182, Franklin, was arrested on March 12, 2020, at 3:17 p.m. Thursday on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of possession of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids and possession of methamphetamine. No bail has been set.
—Joseph Herbert Gilchrist Jr., 27, Live Oak Street, Baldwin, was arrested at 3:53 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of failure to stop/yield at stop sign, improper turn and/or failure to give a required signal, general speed law, operating a vehicle with an expired driver’s license, failure to change address, and operating a vehicle with an obstructed windshield. Gilchrist was released on his own recognizance.
—Amiee Lynn Chapman, 35, Shandre Drive, Centerville, was arrested at 10:52 p.m. Thursday on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of criminal neglect of family, possession of methamphetamine, possession of lisdexamfetamine, possession of hydrocodone, resisting an officer, theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
No bail has been set.
—Keed J. Viator, 53, St. Charles Street, New Iberia, was arrested at 10:52 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of a Schedule I drug with intent to distribute, possession of a Schedule II drug with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, transaction involving proceeds from drug offenses and possession of methamphetamine
No bail has been set.
—Leonard Joseph Romero, III, 41, Shandre Drive, Centerville, was arrested at 10:52 p.m. Thursday on an Iberia Parish warrant for the charges of theft, possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance and operating a vehicle without a driver’s license. Romero is being held for another agency.
—Joseph Felix, Debuse, 33, Magnolia Avenue, New Iberia, was arrested at 10:52 p.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of marijuana and on an Iberia Parish warrant for the charge of possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance.
Debuse is being held for another agency.
Berwick Police Chief David S. Leonard reported this arrest:
—Nicole M. Fisher, 49, Pacific Street, Berwick, was arrested at 6:33 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine), possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (marijuana), possession of the legend drug Seroquel without a prescription, and violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Law (drug-free zone).
At 5:48 p.m. Thursday, conducted a narcotics investigation at a residence on Pacific Street due to complaints from the public indicating drug use at the residence.
Officers were granted permission to search the residence from the tenants of the home. During the search, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana and Seroquel pills and uncovered evidence that the drugs belonged to Nicole M. Fisher.
Fisher was unable to produce a prescription for the Seroquel pills. The residence was located within 2,000 feet of two churches and a school, which are posted as drug free zones. Fisher was placed under arrest and booked into the Berwick Jail. She remains incarcerated with no bond set at this time.