COVID-19 claims another local resident

The novel coronavirus has claimed the life of another Lincoln Parish resident.

Figures released at noon Thursday by the Louisiana Department of Health now show 19 deaths in Lincoln Parish and a total of 338 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the respiratory ailment caused of the coronavirus.

The additional death is the first one added since June 9. Though LDH did report 19 deaths on June 19, they later backed the tally to 18, apparently because of a listing error.

Both the death and case totals are supposed to reflect Lincoln Parish residents only.

The parish has added 38 new cases of COVID-19 in a week. The jump comes as part of a spike statewide in coronavirus cases.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday said the gains the state had made toward curbing the coronavirus in early June have now been lost, and that Louisiana is now back on the White House Coronavirus Task Force watch list.

“Our trajectory suggests we’re going to give up more ground,” Edwards said.

Because of the increase that officials track back to Memorial Day, Edwards has held the state in the Phase Two of the economic reopening. Phase Two allows for 50% occupancy in restaurants and most other places.

The governor blames the rising case count on people not wearing masks and not social distancing.

“There is no safe large crowd. Period.” Edwards said.

He urged residents to refrain from July 4 gatherings and, if they do get out, wear a mask and stay at least 6 feet from anyone not in their immediate family.