Another big increase in COVID-19 cases

Another big jump in the number of COVID-19 positives was reported Wednesday statewide and in St. Martin Parish. And two deaths were reported for St. Mary.

The Louisiana Office of Public Health said a backlog of old results is responsible for some of the daily total. But that accounts for only 129 new cases from tests April 1-9. A total of 928 new cases were posted Wednesday.

In St Martin, the number of new cases posted Wednesday was 60, the highest one-day total ever for a local parish. That raises the total to 441 cases and 28 deaths after about 5,200 tests.

The two St. Mary deaths raise the toll to 35. Three new cases raised the total to 363 after 4,500 tests.

Six new Assumption cases make the count there 282 with 14 deaths after 2,800 tests.

Statewide:

--928 new cases raise the total to 48,634 after 545,000 tests.

--20 deaths raise the toll to 2,950.

--The number of hospitalizations dropped by nine to 579.

--6 more people are on ventilators for a total of 83.