BATON ROUGE - With 171 reported cases of novel coronavirus in the state, East Baton Rouge officials are bracing for the first reported case in their area. 

On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome joined Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, Chief Murphy Paul, and other East Baton Rouge Parish safety officials in addressing the public on the latest developments in regards to the virus. 

The sheriff said he hopes to release some inmates early pending judge and DA approval to help alleviate the jail population. Additionally, the sheriff's office is no longer booking people for misdemeanors. Officials will, however, continue to book people accused of violent offenses, DWI's, and violent domestic incidents. 

All visitation has been suspended at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, and those who do enter will be screened for illness. Transfers have also been suspended.

You can view the mayor's entire press conference below.