A Mississippi man has died in Slidell.
"St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Charles Preston learned last night that a patient at Ochsner Northshore in Slidell had expired from complications of COVID-19," according to a news release.
Spokesman James Hartman says the hospital notified authorities Thursday evening that Howard Pickens, 63, of Waveland, Mississippi, died of respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19.
"Pickens, who had been hospitalized since March 13, had an underlying medical condition that made him more susceptible to the virus' more drastic effects," the release noted. "We offer our condolences to Mr. Pickens' family in this tragic time," Preston said. "Let this case be a reminder that no community is immune to this illness, and that we all must take full precautions no matter how we're feeling and no matter our presumed risk of exposure. Hand-washing, coughing into one's arm, maintaining social distance and avoiding gatherings are essential to flattening the curve of COVID-19's spread."
As of Thursday, the state of Louisiana had reported ten other deaths in the state.
Eight deaths were New Orleans residents.
One was from Jefferson Parish.
One was a St. James Parish individual.
