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This article was written by Washington Parish President Richard “Ned” Thomas.

As of noon Thursday, April 16, 2020, the Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 179 cases of COVID-19 and 10 deaths in Washington Parish.

I implore every citizen of Washington Parish to do their part to stop the spread of this virus that has taken the lives of so many people. I know everywhere you turn you hear “Stay Home, Stop the Spread, Save a Life,” and you will continue to hear it until everyone does it. I want to see all of our businesses, playgrounds, churches and parks opened. That can only happen if every citizen of Washington Parish does their part to help stop the spread.

If you are an essential business as defined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, please safeguard your workers and customers by practicing social distancing, putting tape down to show six-foot distance on shopping aisles and at checkouts, and by limiting the number of shoppers at any given time. If you see your shoppers or employees not practicing guidelines, please correct them. The CDC is recommending the use of facemask covering the nose and mouth when interacting in public situations.

If you operate a non-essential business, you can continue to operate if your staff can work remotely from home. You are only allowed to conduct necessary activities inside your business as it relates to payroll, cleaning services, maintenance or upkeep as necessary. Curbside service to customers is allowed for essential business only.

If you are unsure if your business is considered essential or non-essential, please visit gov.louisiana.gov and click on “Stay at Home Order Extended to April 30.” The measures in this order are extremely necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our healthcare facilities across the state from being significantly overwhelmed.

For at least the next two weeks, unless travel is necessary, let’s all “Stay Home So We Can Stop the Spread and Save Lives.”