NEW ORLEANS (WAFB) - Governor John Bel Edwards says the Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed two new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus in Louisiana. He made the announcement Tuesday, March 10.

“Currently, we have three presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in Louisiana, all in the New Orleans area,” Edwards said in a tweet.

The governor will hold a news conference to discuss the new presumptive cases at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 after meeting with his unified command group in Baton Rouge.

Edwards announced the state’s first presumptive case of the coronavirus Monday, March 9 while giving opening remarks during the start of the 2020 Legislative Session at the Louisiana State Capitol. Edwards said the first presumptive patient is a Jefferson Parish resident, that is being hospitalized in Orleans Parish.

“At this point in our investigation we believe the first presumptive positive announced yesterday [March 9] is not travel-related and was community acquired,” said Dr. Alex Billioux, assistant secretary of the Office of Public Health.

Edwards says health officials will decline from disclosing more information about presumptive patients.

“While we investigate the cases and travel of the individuals, we cannot disclose any additional information about these patients at this time,” Edwards said in a tweet.

The “presumptive” cases remain classified as such until confirmed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. The CDC can take several days to return test results to the state, according to officials with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). LDH officials say they are moving forward as if the tests are actual positives and will take action to contain the spread of the virus. If any of the three cases are confirmed, it would be the state’s first case of the new strand of coronavirus, a family of viruses that cause a range of respiratory illnesses.

LDH officials say 35 people have been tested for presumptive cases in Louisiana and only three have been confirmed presumptive positive.

The state initially received 1,000 test kits. Later, the state received two bundles of 500 kits each. Testing for a single person can take between three to four kits, Edwards estimated, so having 2,000 kits doesn’t mean 2,000 people can be tested.

State health officials said in-state testing means presumptive results can be returned quicker. Patients suspected of infection are assessed by hospital staff. The staff then requests a state courier come pick up a sample that’s sent to a state lab in Baton Rouge for testing. LDH officials say some private laboratories in Louisiana are now ready to test for COVID-19 as of March 10. Healthcare providers will start sending samples to those private labs. Officials say LDH will be notified of any positive results that come from a commercial lab.

“Appropriate treatment and precautions will immediately be put in place for any positive commercial test before that test is confirmed by the State Lab, and the public will be notified,” LDH officials said in a statement.

The governor and state health officials have asked for residents to do their part to prevent the spread of the disease by regularly washing their hands, disinfecting commonly used surfaces, and staying home if feeling sick. The governor advises senior citizens and those with chronic health issues to take extra precautions.

“Additionally, older people may consider additional measures like avoiding any kind of unnecessary airline travel and reducing their public interactions to avoid their potential exposure to illness,” Edwards said.

The governor and LDH officials expect the state will see more presumptive positive cases of the coronavirus. However, officials ask residents to remain calm.

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

“We can limit this, but it’s going to require everyone to do their part,” said Edwards. “It looks as though this is going to get worse for some period before it gets better, but how much worse is really dependent on whether people do what we’re telling them.”

Residents are advised to maintain proper hygiene by:

Staying home if sick

Covering their cough

Washing their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water. Hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol should be used when soap isn't available.

Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces

Maintaining at least six feet of distance with sick people

Symptoms of the coronavirus can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing. The CDC believes symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Louisianans with questions are asked to call the state health department’s general information line at 1-855-523-2652 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

More information is also available on LDH’s website by

.