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.
Iberville Parish reported 36 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 81 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 10,859 cases and 154 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. ​
See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases
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.
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
mstucka@gannett.com.
You must log in to post a comment.