59 new COVID cases, one death in St. Mary

Fifty-nine new COVID cases since Thursday were reported by the Louisiana Office of Public Health at midday Friday.

One COVID-related death was also reported.

The pandemic totals for St. Mary are now 7,096 COVID positives and 162 deaths.

In Louisiana Department of Health Region 3, which includes St. Mary, 492 of 599 hospital beds were in use Friday, and 73 of 82 intensive care beds were occupied.

Statewide, 7,548 new cases were reported Friday along with 57 deaths. Six more COVID hospitalizations were reported, raising that total to 2,907.

Ochsner
Ochsner Health System, which operates Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City, reported that its hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi had 1,043 COVID patients Wednesday, down 20 from Tuesday.

That was the second consecutive daily decline.

In Ochsner’s Bayou Region, which includes Ochsner St. Mary and partner Terrebonne General, the number of COVID patients in system hospitals fell by eight to 104.

Ochsner St. Mary had 24 COVID patients Wednesday, and 23 of them were unvaccinated.

The latest OPH report says St. Mary’s vaccination rate is now 30.9%, lagging behind the state and national rates.

Festivals
Plans are moving ahead for the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival in Morgan City over the Labor Day weekend.

The Sugar Cane Festival’s organizers in New Iberia also plan to go on with the event Sept. 23-26.

Two of Louisiana’s largest festivals, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Festivals Acadiens et Creoles in Lafayette, have been postponed until spring. Both were scheduled for October.