As the number of test results grow in Louisiana, so do the number of cases and deaths - up to 1,172 and 34 respectively as of the Monday noon update from the state Department of Health.
The top three reporting parishes are Orleans with 567 cases and 20 deaths, Jefferson with 252 cases and five deaths, and East Baton Rouge with 43 cases and one death, a 44-year-old.
Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said she was "deeply saddened" to hear of the first death of a resident in East Baton Rouge Parish attributed to COVID-19. The coroner said another death reported from the parish was that of a Mississippi resident.
"In the coming days, we expect East Baton Rouge Parish to continue to have a noticeable increase in positive COVID-19 test results. This does not indicate a rapid spread of the virus, but is a direct result of the increase in testing. The Surgeon General and Governor John Bel Edwards have stated the next two weeks are critical for slowing the spread of COVID-19. It is important for people to remain calm as the number of confirmed cases begins to rise, and continue to implement best practices such as social distancing and good hygiene," Broome added.
After Lambeth House in New Orleans (42 cases, 9 deaths, LDH has also identified a second cluster of cases at Chateau D'Ville in Donaldsonville, with 5 cases identified on Monday. "LDH is working with this facility to help minimize the spread of this infection, and has requested additional assistance from the CDC," read a press release.
Commercial labs have reported over 4,300 test results, while the state lab has completed over 1,600 tests.