The Louisiana Department of Health has updated its website to reflect the latest number of COVID-19 positives and will continue to update its website at noon each day.
Recoveries
As of today the Department of Health is reporting the estimated number of COVID-19 patients who have recovered. The Department estimates 14,927 Louisianans have recovered from the coronavirus.
A person is presumed recovered if:
1) it has been more than 14 days since he/she tested positive and he/she is not currently in the hospital or deceased (when hospital status is known), or
2) it has been more than 21 days since he/she tested positive and he/she is not deceased (when hospital status is unknown).
LDH will update recovery data weekly on Mondays.
Commercial testing update
Before today, LDH reported COVID-19 cases by parish of residence while it reported on tests by the parish where those tests are administered. The Department did this because it was based on data received from commercial labs, but this made it harder to understand the full picture of what COVID-19 testing capacity looked like across the state.
LDH has designed a rigorous method for reporting commercial tests by parish of residence. If it is unclear what the parish of residence is for a person tested, LDH will cross reference using Medicaid information and if that doesn’t work then it will consult LexisNexis.
Up until now, this was a manual process. Taking the time to do this comprehensive review allowed the LDH team to put into place the algorithm to shift from commercial tests reported to commercial tests performed because this is a more meaningful indicator. In making this shift there is a discrepancy of about 35,000 tests. Updated commercial testing data is now on the dashboard. This update does not impact the positive case count.
About the Louisiana Department of Health
The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents. The Louisiana Department of Health includes the Office of Public Health, Office of Aging & Adult Services, Office of Behavioral Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, and Healthy Louisiana (Medicaid).
Just a guess but there must also an employee that is positive. I still don’t understand why Natchitoches medical center can’t tell us the number of covid patients that are in the hospital. With 73 cases seems we are past the point of thinking Natchitoches is immune to the virus. I would like to know how many positives are in the grocery store with me.
I think the public has the right to know how many residents have tested positive. I have relatives in that facility an family that works there. But I’m sure it won’t be long before someone spills the Tea. Prayers to everyone. Stay safe. Lord bless those CNA’S who are never recognized for the Frontline workers they’ve always been way before this.
Margaret on NRMC, COVID 19 Community update——excellent update on the virus & precautions at the medical facilities. Good explanation of the masks.