20 new COVID positives in St. Mary; state hospitalizations near 800

Twenty new COVID-19 test positives were reported for St. Mary in the 24 hours ending at midday Wednesday, and one Assumption fatality was reported by the Louisiana Office of Public Health.

Statewide, more than 2,000 new cases were recorded, and the number of people hospitalized for COVID treatment hit 799.

In St. Mary, the 20 new positives raise the number of cases since the pandemic began to 489. Thirty-eight St. Mary people have died.

Fifteen new cases were reported in St. Martin for a total of 727 with 26 deaths.

The Assumption fatality raises that parish's death toll to 15. Another five COVID positives make the parish total 357.

Statewide:

--2,083 new positives were reported Wednesday, pushing the pandemic total to 60,178.

--17 new deaths raise the toll to 3,130.

--The number of hospitalizations rose by 18 to 799.

--The number of people on ventilators rose by one to 84.

The growing number of hospitalizations is a red flag because it can't be attributed to an increase in testing.

In Louisiana Department of Health Region 3, which extends east from St. Mary and Assumption, 48 of 91 intensive care beds are in use. And 435 of 744 total hospital beds are in use.

Only 10 of 111 ventilators in Region 3 were in use Wednesday.

St. Martin Parish is in Region 4, centered on the Lafayette area. Region 4 has been identified as an area with increasing COVID spread.

There, 139 of 179 ICU beds and 1,195 of 1,723 total hospital beds are in use. Forty-nine of 131 ventilators in Region 4 are in use.

The number of statewide COVID positives has been corrected in this story.