Daily John Bel briefing up in a few minutes. https://www.facebook.com/LouisianaGov/videos/654945758674259/

Edwards: "We're obviously back in Baton Rouge today after spending yesterday in North Louisiana, the Monroe area" to survey tornado damage.

Edwards: "Today' we're reporting 502 new cases of Covid-19 in Louisiana ... The death count has increased by 129. That is the largest number of deaths we've reported in a 24-hour period." Brings the state over 1,000 deaths.

Edwards: "Every one of these numbers is a person, one of our neighbors, one of our friends ... These are our fellow Louisianans. We grieve for them along with their families."

Edwards: "Only 21 of the 129 deaths we're reporting today actually occurred in the last 24-hour period."

72 occurred in the last three days. Edwards: "So it remains very important to maintain compliance with the stay at home order. ... Failure to do these things will mean more people will be exposed to the virus ... Some will die."

Edwards: "While that number of 129 deaths is very troublesome, there are some positive signs." Reduction in hospitalizations and ventilator usage. (Ventilator usage in NO area is now around 35 percent of capacity, down from around 60 percent about 2 weeks ago.)

Edwards says that starting tomorrow GOHSEP, rather than FEMA, will be providing tests for the Alario Center testing center.

Edwards: "According to all the publicly available data across the country, Louisiana is number one in testing across the country."

Edwards says 17,700 SBA paycheck protection loans have been approved in La.

Edwards says the state is granting temporary furloughs to some non-violent, non-sex offender prisoners in the state.

Edwards: "We're still very much in the middle of our efforts to flatten the curve." Today's news about deaths is troubling, but it is a lagging indicator. Leading indicators are new hospitalizations, ICU usage and ventilator usage.

Edwards: "We're in a much better place because of what we've done ... If we stop, we know we're going to see a spike again." Right now, there is no region in the state where the state now foresees running out of ventilators or beds.

Not long ago, state modeling put the New Orleans area within a few days of exceeding capacity. That has improved significantly.

Edwards: "It's not going to be over tomorrow. It's not going to be over next week. But we can make sure that when it is over, it will not have been the worst possible case scenario."

Sec. LeBlanc, DOC, takes the podium to discuss the prison furlough program.

LeBlanc says the review process includes a panel: Himself, Dir. Probation and Parole, Pardon and parole board, victim's advocate, La Sheriff's Assoc., DA's Association.

Leblanc: "To be considered suitable, a vote of five out of six panel members is required." Furlough will be home release, ankle monitors, active supervision.

Two groups to be reviewed: Inmates with preexisting medical conditions, non-violent offense, within six months release, and have a home.

Group 2: Offenders at local jails, serving sentence for non-violent crime, within six months, have homes.

Question: How many prisoners will qualify. LeBlanc: "Under group 1, it's approximately 100, with medical conditions. Group 2 is around 1100."

Question: What's the idea behind this? LeBlanc: "It's creating room. I think that's the main thing .. If we can get people out of harm's way, I think that's good, too."

Panel will begin reviews of prisoners on Friday. First panel will have 40 on the docket. Will meet two to three times a week. LeBlanc: "We'll do that every week, for however long it takes."

Edwards taking questions from the public. First one: How can we volunteer to help? Edwards: "Well, it's not really volunteering if it's an order, but follow the stay at home order."

Edwards: "Check on your family and friends by calling them ... I'm also asking folks, if they are able to do so, consider making a contribution to your local food bank .. A little bit of money really goes a long way in our food banks."

Edwards' short answer: Don't try to go out and volunteer. Donate money if you can.

Tomorrow's presser will be at 4 p.m. because Edwards is going on the radio at 2.

Edwards: "Covid-19 remains in every community ... It's important that people follow all the precautions that we've been giving them."

Edwards: "If you look at the efforts that have been made in Louisiana to increase testing," they've been very successful. "But we're not satisfied. We're trying to expand the testing that's available for surveillance purposes, for diagnostic purposes."

Edwards: "The key to moving forward between now and when a vaccine becomes available will be through very agressive testing and contact tracing."

Edwards: "Over 90 percent of the tests that are coming in every day now are coming from commercial labs."

Edwards: "We're going to continue to bring more testing online, not less testing."