Dr. Tina Stefanski, Region 4 Medical Director with the Louisiana Department of Health, released updated regional coronavirus data on Friday that shows the number of cases increasing in the area.
According to Dr. Stefanski, the increase in case count in Region 4 reflects a rate of community spread that is greater than 90%.
Hospitalizations in the region are also increasing. On June 10, there were 38 patients admitted in regional hospitals with a COVID-19 diagnosis. On Friday, June 26, there are 95 patients admitted in our region with a COVID-19 diagnosis, Dr. Stefanski said.
According to data from LDH, Lafayette General Medical Center has the fourth highest total of COVID-19 positive patients in the state as of Friday, with 25. This is about 10 patients above average.
Dr. Stefanski also clarified when someone should quarantine, and said there is "a lot of misunderstanding" about quarantining among the general public.
- If someone is identified as a close contact to a confirmed case they should be placed under quarantine for 14 days. Even if they test negative, they must remain in quarantine.
- Even if a close contact tests negative, they must remain in quarantine for the full 14 days.
The Department of Health is receiving numerous reports that close contacts of cases are seeking negative tests in order to end their quarantine period earlier; this is incorrect, Dr. Stefanski said.
"The test is only a reflection of a person's COVID-19 status at the time of testing and could change in the days following testing. There is a lot of misunderstanding about the issue of quarantine among the general public and, many people are returning to work and social gatherings when they should not be."
"Close contact" is defined as being within 6 feet, for 15 minutes or more, of someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
More information from the Centers for Disease Control on quarantining can be found here.
Louisiana's positivity of testing is currently 7.8%, while the regional positivity of testing is 9.2%. Dr. Stefanski explained that the federal goal is to keep this number below 10%.
LDH is encouraging:
- Hand hygiene
- Social distancing: Put distance between yourself and other people when you are outside of your home
- Face coverings: Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others in public
Find all the data provided by Dr. Stefanski below:
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