A New Orleans-area nurse on the front lines of treating patients with coronavirus — and who contracted the virus herself — has died amid the pandemic, the first coronavirus-related death of a local health care worker that a hospital has publicly announced thus far.

Larrice Anderson, a nurse at New Orleans East Hospital, tested positive for coronavirus and died this week, LCMC Health announced Wednesday afternoon. She was 46. Anderson worked in nursing for many years, earlier as a nurse tech at Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner before she became a registered nurse and moved on to the New Orleans East Hospital a few years ago.

Health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic are at a higher risk for infection. That may be especially true for nurses, who typically spend more time in a patient’s room carrying out procedures that require closer contact.

Anderson put caring for her patients above all else, according to a former co-worker and longtime close friend, Dorothy Lewis. They met working at Ochsner in Kenner many years ago, and became such close friends that Anderson was the godmother of Lewis' daughter.

"She always was the backbone of the ER," Lewis said.

Lewis said that though Anderson had underlying health conditions, she did not back away from her oath to take care of other patients — including those with the coronavirus. Lewis recalled how Anderson recently told her over the phone that she needed to quickly finish their conversation so that she could "gear up."

”She only went to work and home," Lewis said. "She had no room for nothing else. That tells you right there where she got it from."

LCMC released a statement Wednesday thanking the caregivers "bravely serving on the front lines."

"These medical professionals — people like Larrice — are true heroes, deserving of our gratitude for their dedication, sacrifice and service to patients during this unprecedented time," wrote Mary Beth Romig, LCMC public relations director. "We stand with our care teams and caregivers, here and everywhere, who continue to give their all."

Officials from New Orleans East Hospital declined an interview request.

Lewis said that Anderson became sick in early March, initially only experiencing stomach problems that they thought could be food poisoning. But she got worse, was diagnosed with viral pneumonia and was eventually admitted to the New Orleans East Hospital as a patient. She was transferred to UMC when she needed additional ventilation, Lewis said.

Anderson was on the upswing and doctors expected her to be discharged before she took a surprising turn for the worse hours before she died Tuesday, Lewis said.

“Next thing you know, she had trouble breathing, they brought her back to the ICU, her heart stopped and they couldn’t get her back," she said.

Heartfelt tributes to the mother of two poured out on social media in the hours after her death from friends, family and coworkers.

"If I could think of one word to describe her it would be joyful. Such joy of life, and immense joy and pride in being a nurse," said former coworker Erin Owens, who also met Anderson at Ochsner.

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While Anderson is the first health care in the area to fall victim to the virus, health care workers have shouldered a disproportionate share of infections in other cities and countries.

According to data from China, more than 3,300 doctors contracted the virus. In Italy, health care workers make up 20% of COVID cases, according to the journal The Lancet. In New York City, two nurses have died from the virus, according to reports from The New York Times.

The Louisiana Department of Health does not report how many positive COVID-19 cases there are among health care workers. States that do, such as Ohio and Minnesota, are reporting around 20% of cases are health professionals.