Council counseled on COVID-19 coronavirus

Public health officials say they are staying ahead of the CoVID19 coronavirus.

"We've been on top of this for weeks, since very early January when it became obvious that it was going to spread," said New Orleans health director Dr. Jennifer Avegno  at today's meeting of the New Orleans City Council.

Avegno told the council that the coronavirus so far has not been as deadly as the current flu season.

"Of all the cases that there are, and there have been about 90,000 plus cases worldwide, about three and a half percent of those fatal," said Dr. Avegno. "But there's a big caveat to that: we do not know how many cases were never tested, so it's likely that the fatality rate may be lower."

Dr. Avegno reiterated that while there are currently no cases in New Orleans or anywhere in Louisiana, officials are preparing for that eventuality. She again urged everyone to wash hands frequently and avoid close contact and stay home if your are sick, not only for coronavirus, but for flu too.