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LAPLACE — As of the Thursday update from the Louisiana Department of Health, there have been 274 reported cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths in St. John the Baptist Parish.

On Wednesday, there were 118 recorded cases and 13 deaths in St. John Parish. This sharp rise in numbers throughout the state is due to an increase in testing.

St. John still has the third-highest number of fatalities, behind Orleans and Jefferson parishes.

As of Thursday at noon, St. Charles Parish has 180 reported cases and eight deaths, while St. James has 110 reported cases and four deaths.

Statewide, there are 9,150 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 61 parishes. This marks an increase of 2,726 cases since yesterday’s report. More than 95 percent of these positive results are from tests being conducted in commercial labs.

Three Louisiana parishes have not reported cases, though Governor John Bel Edwards said he is certain the virus has spread in all 64 parishes. There have been 310 deaths, up 37 from Wednesday. The first death in the state was reported on March 14.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, there are 1,639 COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the state. Of these patients, 507 are on ventilators.

This data is updated daily at noon.

“While extremely upsetting, this increase in COVID-19 cases appears to be less a sign of new exponential growth and more a sign of a logjam from commercial labs,” said Governor John Bel Edwards.

 

“I am pleased to see a ramp up in testing across the state. We need this energy and commitment to continue. It’s important to understand that what’s happening in Louisiana with the increased testing is also happening around the country. That said, as more and more commercial labs come online our different data systems must learn to talk to one another. I have said time and again – COVID-19 is a statewide problem and testing is a vital step towards understanding the scale of this problem. We believe COVID-19 is spreading in every parish in Louisiana.”

 

Dr. Alex Billioux, assistant secretary of the Office of Public Health, said Louisiana’s COVID-related hospitalization and death rates, while still concerningly high, and now trending more in line with the national average.

 

Edwards reminded the public that every person has the power to make a change by staying at home.

 

The governor will discuss the situation during today’s 2:30 p.m. press briefing.