32 new COVID cases, no deaths in three local parishes

St. Martin had 19 of the 32 new COVID-19 cases reported for three local parishes at midday Friday, according to Louisiana Office of Public Health statistics.

St. Martin's pandemic case count rose to 2,295 with Friday's numbers.

St. Mary had seven new cases for a pandemic total of 2,054. Assumption's six new cases raised its pandemic total to 828.

No new COVID-related fatalities were reported Friday, so the parish death tolls remain at 87 for St. Mary, 64 for St. Martin and 24 for Assumption.

Louisiana, which had escaped signs of the third wave of COVID cases seen in much of the United States, is starting to see its COVID numbers inch upward. Hospitalizations were up for the fourth straight day.

Statewide:

--855 new COVID cases raise the pandemic total to 186,695.

--21 newly reported fatalities raise the toll to 5,787.

--8 more COVID-positive people were hospitalized for a total of 644.

--The number of people on ventilators dropped by one to 81.