Only one new COVID-19 positive in St. Mary; La. spread slower, deaths up by 90

One new St. Mary COVID-19 case was reported by the Office of Public Health at noon Wednesday, bringing the parish total to 130.

The number of St. Mary people who have died of COVID-19-related illness is now at four. The numbers apparently reflect two deaths late last week among residents at Franklin's Legacy nursing facility.

Two previous deaths had been reported last week: a parish resident who died in New Orleans after going there for medical therapy, and a woman who died at Ochsner St. Mary.

The number of tests here is now at 490.

Two more fatalities were reported in St. Martin, where the death toll is now at 10. The number of reported cases there rose by six Wednesday to 174 after 551 tests.

Six more cases were recorded among Assumption residents, bringing the total there to 129 after 159 tests. One death had been previously reported.

Statewide, 433 new COVID-19 positives bring the total to 21,951. The number of new cases has been growing more slowly this week, but the number of deaths continues to grow more quickly. Another 90 deaths were reported Wednesday, bringing the total to 1,103.

The number of COVID-19 patients in Louisiana hospitals fell by 34 to 1,943, and the number of people on ventilators was down by 11 to 425.

Nearly 122,000 tests have been performed among state residents.

Officials warn that delays in the reporting of test results from commercial labs mean that new cases and deaths listed each day may reflect tests that were performed days earlier.