Louisiana's two latest presumptive cases of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, are being handled by University Medical Center and Touro Infirmary, which are both in New Orleans and are run by LCMC Health.

Both cases were announced Tuesday, the day after the state's first presumptive COVID-19 case was reported at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New Orleans.

LCMC Health staffers were notified of the new COVID-19 cases in an email that was obtained by Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate. LCMC spokeswoman Mary Beth Romig-Haskins confirmed the email was sent to staffers and said both UMC and Touro were following "well-established protocols" to treat people with the virus.

The email added that the network's staffers have been "prepared and trained for this situation and stand ready to care for our patients and protect our employees."

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The health network is identifying personnel who came into contact with the patients and will subject them to LCMC's "screening protocol," according to the email.

"The health and wellness of our employees, patients and visitors are of the utmost importance to us," said the email, which pledged that "more resources and information" would be shared Tuesday afternoon.

Like Monday's COVID-19 case, Tuesday's two new patients are presumed positive until the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms the results.

Gov. John Bel Edwards first announced that the number of cases in Louisiana and New Orleans had jumped to three but wouldn't discuss additional information about the new patients.

Edwards said Louisianans should be prepared for a spike in the number of likely positive cases as commercial labs begin testing.

"I am asking all ... to remain vigilant as we work to contain the spread of this and other illnesses," Edwards said.

A respiratory illness that has been spreading around the world in recent weeks, the coronavirus has infected nearly 114,000 people globally and killed more than 4,000, leading to factory shutdowns, travel bans, closings of schools and stores, and cancellations of conventions and other gatherings. In the United States, the number of infected people climbed to around 650, with at least 25 deaths.

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