Ouachita Parish's COVID cases fall 46.9%; Louisiana cases plummet 40%
Louisiana reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding 5,618 new cases. That's down 40% from the previous week's tally of 9,360 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Louisiana ranked 30th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 7.7% from the week before, with 436,694 cases reported. With 1.4% of the country's population, Louisiana had 1.29% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, 24 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.
Johns Hopkins University has been getting data on an erratic schedule from Louisiana, skewing week-to-week comparisons.
Ouachita Parish reported 299 cases and nine deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 563 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 59,004 cases and 794 deaths.
Richland Parish reported 30 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 72 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 8,087 cases and 104 deaths.
Union Parish reported 76 cases and one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 88 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 8,340 cases and 142 deaths.
Caldwell Parish reported 54 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 77 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 4,250 cases and 55 deaths.
Across Louisiana, cases fell in 58 parishes, with the best declines in East Baton Rouge Parish, with 319 cases from 678 a week earlier; in Lafayette Parish, with 276 cases from 564; and in Ouachita Parish, with 299 cases from 563. ​
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Within Louisiana, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in East Carroll Parish with 598 cases per 100,000 per week; Caldwell Parish with 544; and Union Parish with 344. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.
Adding the most new cases overall were Caddo Parish, with 421 cases; Orleans Parish, with 415 cases; and Jefferson Parish, with 350.
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In Louisiana, 54 ​ people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 46 people were reported dead.
A total of 1,448,503 people in Louisiana have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 17,977 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 95,658,236 people have tested positive and 1,053,419 people have died.
>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States
Louisiana's COVID-19 hospital admissions falling
USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, Sept. 18. Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:
Last week: 544
The week before that: 605
Four weeks ago: 797
Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:
Last week: 57,618
The week before that: 58,248
Four weeks ago: 66,210
Hospitals in 15 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 14 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 22 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.
The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Ouachita Parish reported 299 additional COVID-19 cases this week
