Baker Donelson Partner With Coronavirus in Critical Condition

A Baker Donelson partner has been diagnosed with coronavirus and is currently in critical condition in the New Orleans area.

Mark Frilot, 45, works in the firm’s construction practice in its offices in Mandeville and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Frilot is just one of 114 people that have tested positive for the coronavirus in the state with two deaths thus far, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

According to several news reports, Frilot came down with a slight fever on March 6. Two days later he went to an urgent care facility that diagnosed him with the flu and was prescribed Tamiflu, codeine cough syrup, and prednisone.

When his condition didn’t improve, he called his doctors back who advised him to continue his treatments, the reports said.

But as his condition deteriorated, according to reports, Frilot went to the emergency room at East Jefferson General Hospital near New Orleans where he was diagnosed with double pneumonia and tested positive for coronavirus. He is now reportedly in critical care and in isolation.

In a statement, Baker Donelson confirmed that a member of one of its Louisiana offices was diagnosed with coronavirus, but declined to provide more information “to comply with privacy rules.”

At this time, no other Baker Donelson team members appear to be affected, but “to help protect the health of our other team members,” the firm has closed its New Orleans and Mandeville offices until March 23.

Professionals and staff in those offices will work remotely until the offices reopen, the firm said.

On Monday, the firm issued a press release noting that it has a “comprehensive business continuity plan” for clients in the event of office closures or other disruptions.

“Baker Donelson joins the rest of society in keeping those affected by COVID-19 in our thoughts and prayers and in hopes of an early return to normalcy,” the firm said.