Dear friends and colleagues,
As the deadly novel coronavirus advances across the United States and much of Louisiana, local leaders can use data to fight back against its spread.
After weeks of holding steady, Louisiana’s cases and deaths are exploding. As a result, The Data Center is launching a new COVID site covering every parish and census tract in Louisiana as ammunition in the war against this deadly enemy.
This virus has proven that it can move rapidly through communities when unchecked. Folks living in situations where social distancing is near impossible or who lack the resources to avoid exposure are particularly vulnerable. These might be people in nursing homes, frontline workers, people in poverty, or those living in multigenerational households.
Given the urgency, we wanted to get this out to you as fast as we could, so the site is still in beta. Still, this invaluable data and information provides local leaders across the state with easy-to-use data on communities that are most vulnerable. Using the information provided for each parish—and each tract within a parish—leaders can pinpoint not only where help is needed the most, but also where the virus might be spreading most rapidly and putting a strain on resources. You can also see where COVID is advancing in neighboring parishes, an indicator often serving as a warning for where the next virus surge might be. Lastly, the site illuminates parts of each parish where people lack access to key resources (such as access to a vehicle, the Internet, or health insurance) that help in fighting back against this infectious foe.
Check out our statewide COVID-19 information site:
Return often for timely data updates.
Bringing you the data you need to make informed (and lifesaving) decisions,
The Data Center Team
Allison Plyer, Dabne Whitemore, Jenna Losh, Don Asay, Robby Habans, Lamar Gardere, Cody Brumfield, Amy Teller, Rachel Weinstein, Ellen Kujawa, Katrina Andry, and Erica Amrine
