Copy
APACVB Newsletter
View this email in your browser

Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Updates for the Alexandria/Pineville Area 

We are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as it relates to Louisiana and Rapides Parish. Our top priority is the safety, health, and wellbeing of our community, its residents, and visitors. This is a rapidly evolving situation that changes by the hour and there is a lot of uncertainty. We are providing you resources below for your business and employees. Please forward to any colleagues in the industry that you feel would benefit from this information. And please reach out with any specific questions.
 
The Governor signed a proclamation (3/13/2020) that immediately halts any gathering of more than 250 people until Monday, April 13. All public schools will be closed effective Monday, March 16 through Monday, April 13. This may be extended as needed and includes all places of worship.

We would be remiss not to highlight the special precautions that many of our local businesses/attractions are taking right now. Please visit their websites and social media pages to see if they are open and what precautions they are taking. And remember we are all in this together and your support of these places is of utmost importance at this time. 

 
Rapides Parish Specific Updates:
  • Louisiana State University Alexandria will be moving all classes online beginning Monday, March 30; website Link.
  • Central Louisiana Technical Community College is still open at the time this was developed but an announcement is likely to come soon. Keep up to date here.
  • Louisiana College is rescheduling Spring break, suspending classes Friday, March 16 and will resume classes remotely beginning March 30. Potential for a return to face-to-face classes on April 20 is possible. Keep up to date here.
  • Rapides Parish Schools are closed as of Monday, March 16 until Monday, April 13 per the Governor's orders. Follow posted updates regarding classes with detailed information on their Facebook page; website link.
  • We will continue to work with the Rapides Parish Health Unit, Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and others to continue to keep you updated on developments.
  • We have not activated any visitor-facing messaging at this point. Our APACVB Crisis Management Plan, which contains public health crises, will guide our Crisis Management Team as needed when needed. 
  • As this situation evolves, check with event organizers directly on events that may be impacted or postponed. Due to the proclamation, many events are canceled through April 13 as of now.
Our team is in regular contact with the State Tourism Office (Louisiana Travel) and on calls with Destinations International and the U.S. Travel Association to stay informed on the latest updates as it relates to travel. 

We will place any major updates and resources on our COVID-19 Industry Partner page here.
Links with factual updates:
  • The most up-to-date information for Louisiana is located at the LDH website here.
  • The most up-to-date information on a federal level is available on the CDC’s website here.
On Social Media:
Best practices:

Many of our large Accommodations receive guidance from corporate as to the proper sanitization and disinfecting protocol during times like this. For others, follow CDC guidance located here. Ensure you clean items including (but not limited to): door handles, telephones, toilets, light switches, remote controls, blowdryers, HVAC controls, faucet handles, and other surfaces frequently. Link to ECOLab’s full guidance for Hospitality [download PDF].
 
Restaurants may consider moving items touched by consumers to behind the counter. This keeps customers from touching multiple cups, coffee lids, straws, utensils, and other items and the potential spread of germs where multiple items are handled. By handing one to a customer it may help the spread of germs. Also offering a separate new cup for a refill may be feasible. A link to ServSafe’s Coronavirus information is located here.  More resources as they become available for restaurants by the National Restaurant’s Association are online at this link. ECOLab has industry-specific information online here. Link to Restaurants [download PDF]; link to Hospitality [download PDF]; link to Food & Beverage Industry [download PDF].

Airbnb and VRBO
-Airbnb and VRBO Guidance for hosts and guests.

Posters:
There are a number of informational posters for Coronavirus on the CDC’s website here. Two that you may want to display for your employees can be downloaded below.
 
Germs: Wash hands poster Stop the Spread of Germs poster
 

General guidance:
  • The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. As a reminder, the Department of Health always recommends everyday preventive actions to help impede the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
  • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
  • Staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with persons in poor health
  • Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Covering your cough or sneezing with a tissue, then disposing of the issue
  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty
  • Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
LDH and Gov. John Bel Edwards issued new guidance on March 12 related to the Coronavirus.

About Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with recent outbreaks of MERS and SARS.

Questions about Coronavirus?
If you have questions about Coronavirus, please contact the Coronavirus general information line at 1-855-523-2652 from 8 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Reported cases have ranged from mild illness (similar to a common cold) to severe pneumonia that requires hospitalization. So far, deaths have been reported mainly in older adults who had other health conditions.

To minimize the risk of spread, Louisiana health officials are working with health care providers to promptly identify and evaluate any suspected cases.

Symptoms
For confirmed infections, reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms (similar to the common cold) to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 infection. People infected with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.

How does novel coronavirus spread?
Health experts are still learning the details about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through:
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when coughing and sneezing
  • Close personal contact
  • Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
What you can do
Anyone who recently traveled to China, who experiences fever, cough, or other acute illness should contact a health care provider as soon as possible and mention your recent travel. Please call ahead and inform the health care provider about your travel history.
It is currently flu and respiratory disease season, and flu activity is still high and expected to continue for a number of weeks. Take steps to avoid spreading germs from any respiratory diseases by:
  • Getting a flu vaccine and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.
  • Covering your cough.
  • Staying home if you are sick.
  • Washing your hands.
What is the Louisiana Department of Health doing?
We are in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as other local and national partners to share information.

We have sent information to health care providers around the state with current recommendations for screening and testing for COVID-19, as well as to EMS providers regarding proper protection procedures.
We are holding frequent calls with staff to remain apprised of the latest updates and we are sharing messaging with partners and the public as it becomes available.
Sharing messaging with partners and the public as it becomes available.
Information for the Public Information from the CDC
Like every team, the APACVB is keeping a close eye on COVID-19 and will be ready to respond accordingly and responsibly. Please follow the LDH page for the most up-to-date information. Thank you for your time and your concern for the safety, health, and wellbeing of our community.
 
Sincerely,



Sherry Ellington
Alexandria/Pineville Area CVB Executive Director, CEO

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is provided informational purposes only and should not be construed as expert professional advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice from the appropriate resource(s).
 
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
LinkedIn
Copyright © 2018 Alexandria/Pineville Conventions & Visitors Bureau All rights reserved.


Our mailing address is:
707 Second Street 
Alexandria, LA 71301

unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences