Another 31 COVID-19 cases, probable coronavirus fatal in three local prishes

Thirty-one new COVID-19 cases in St. Mary, St. Martin and Assumption were reported at midday Wednesday by the Louisiana Office of Public Health.

Statewide, the number of new confirmed cases was less than half the number reported Tuesday, but hospitalizations were up sharply again.

In St. Mary, 11 new cases identified by PCR tests raise the confirmed pandemic total to 2,239. Another 99 cases her detected with the less sensitive antigen tests and are listed as probable.

One new fatality is also listed as probable in St. Mary, raising the toll to six deaths probably COVID-related and 89 confirmed COVID fatalities.

In St. Martin, 17 new confirmed cases raise the total to 2,617 with 52 probables. And Assumption has three new confirmed cases for a total of 931 with 73 probables.

The death tolls remain at 66 confirmed with five probables in St. Martin and 24 with one probable in Assumption.

Statewide:

--1,234 new cases raise the pandemic total to 214,237 confirmed with another 11,401 probables.

--27 new fatalities raise the confirmed toll to 6,097 with another 253 probables.

--The number of COVID-positive people in hospitals rose by 25 to 1,077. The number of hospitalizations has doubled in a month.

--3 more people are on ventilators for a total of 116.