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Local COVID numbers continue to climb

Tuesday, December 1, 2020
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Leader photo by CALEB DANIEL

Signs such as this one posted on the door of The Chartreuse Pear in Ruston remind shoppers that protective facemasks are asked to be worn as COVID-19 numbers continue rising.


Don’t be deceived by Monday’s reported statistics — the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lincoln Parish continues to rise.

As of noon Monday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported 2,215 cases of the virus since the count began in March. Though most of those patients are presumed to have recovered, the number of newly confirmed cases has been increasing by anywhere from 10 to 30 per day since mid-November.

Monday’s Lincoln Parish number was 20 cases more than LDH reported Friday.

Fifty-seven parish residents have died from COVID-19 with two additional deaths probably attributable to it, according to the LDH dashboard.

But so far, local hospitalizations are low. Only three people were hospitalized Monday at Northern Louisiana Medical Center with a confirmed COVID diagnosis. That’s down from five patients just before the Thanksgiving holiday, NLMC Marketing Director Elizabeth Turnley said.

The hospital closed its 23-bed COVID floor some months ago and now has a specially designated smaller COVID intensive care unit.

Statewide, the numbers jumped by only 171 cases Monday and 13 deaths.

However, the almost daily texts from Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office regarding Louisiana’s COVID-19 situation said this, on Monday: “Don’t be fooled by today’s COVID case count — our test numbers are down due to the holiday weekend. We’re still in a pandemic and everyone needs to be careful.”

Meantime, a look at the latest data on COVID cases in local nursing homes shows the majority of residents who contracted the virus did so at the facilities.

As of Nov. 24, the latest report available, all 27 of the confirmed cases at Alpine Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation were contracted at the facility. Seven new cases among patients were reported over the last week.

Six residents have died of COVID since the tallies began. The report shows 44 total cases among Alpine’s staff since the reporting began in May. Seven new cases were reported over the last week. Thirty-eight staff members who had the virus have recovered, according to LDH.

At Princeton Place, 10 of the 12 confirmed resident cases originated at the facility. Three residents have died of the virus of since the tallies began. The report shows 22 total COVID cases among Alpine’s staff since May, with two of those confirmed over the last week. Nineteen staffers have recovered, the data show.

At Ruston Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 93 of the 96 cumulatively reported cases began at the facility. Twelve residents have died of COVID. The report shows 57 cumulative COVID cases among the facility’s staff, with two of those confirmed over the last week. Fifty-five staffers have recovered.

Louisiana remains under a modified Phase 2 order until Dec. 23.

Just two days before Thanksgiving, Edwards announced that the aggressive third surge of COVID-19 across all regions of Louisiana has made it necessary to impose tighter mitiga tion measures and step back to Phase 2 in order to protect public health.

The order calls for reducing occupancy at some businesses, decreasing gathering sizes, limiting indoor consumption at many bars and urges everyone in Louisiana to avoid gatherings with people outside of their everyday households.

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