Activities at Lafayette Consolidated Government’s three senior centers have been suspended indefinitely by Mayor-President Josh Guillory “due to the on-going spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) combined with a very active flu season.”

As of Thursday, Lafayette Parish did not have reported cases of the virus, but Guillory ordered all programming at the centers to be halted starting Friday given the vulnerability of senior citizens to the fast-spreading virus.

"This is a serious situation," Guillory said on his live radio show Thursday. "We don’t want to downplay it, but at the same time, we’ve got to balance everything."

Guillory called the halt of activities at the three senior centers a temporary measure, but noted that the suspension would continue “until further notice.”

“After serious consideration and consulting with public health experts, I have decided to temporarily suspend activities at LCG's three Senior Centers, until further notice,” he wrote.

“We will take all appropriate and necessary actions to protect our most vulnerable citizens — the elderly. We are monitoring the situation closely and will take additional steps as appropriate, in consultation with the public health community.”

Lafayette Consolidated Government’s three facilities will be closed to the public during the suspension. Those locations, which are typically open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, include the Greenhouse at 110 NE Evangeline Thruway, the Art Studio at 102 N Orange St. and the Rosehouse at 120 Statesman Drive.

Typically, those locations provide recreational and wellness-related programming for people age 55 and up in the parish, including computer classes, exercise classes, art classes, yoga, bingo and other activities.

Guillory said Thursday his administration is in communication with the governor's office and the state's Department of Health regarding the virus, saying that Lafayette is "fully prepared for anything that’s thrown at us" and asking citizens to act responsibly about potential illness concerns.

"Everything is okay right now, and I think we should all be responsible and have self-responsibility," he said. "If you have symptoms, go to the doctor."

Guillory said he is relying on Dr. Tina Stefanski, director of Louisiana’s Region 4 Office of Public Health, and a team of local doctors for guidance on when to elevate the city-parish's response to the virus.

"This is a serious situation. We don’t want to downplay it, but at the same time, we’ve got to balance everything," he said. "Our No. 1 task as local leaders is to make sure that our people have accurate information, and I believe we’re doing that."

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