As of noon  Wednesday,  July 15, there are a total of 84,131 reported cases of COVID-19 in the state of Louisiana since the start of the pandemic, according to the Louisiana Department of Health website.  Louisiana had its first confirmed case on March 9, 2020.   Louisiana’s  estimated population is 4.6 million which equates to 1.83   percent of the state’s population has tested positive for COVID-19.

The positive cases by age group are 10,541  in the 70 and over age group, 9,837  in the 60-69 age group,  12,488 in the 50 to 59 age group,  12,841 in the 40-49 age group,  13, 874 in the 30 to 39 age group, 18,584 in the  18-29 age group, and 5,817  in the under 18 age group. Most  persons  with COVID have mild to moderate systems and many positive cases, especially in the  40 and underage group,  are folks with no symptoms.

When testing first began in March,  only those with symptoms were tested; now testing is encouraged  for all age 18 or over, and for those under the age of 18  who are exhibiting symptoms. 

Additionally, 1,001,200 residents have been tested which equates to  8.4 percent  of those tested have tested positive and 91.6  percent of those tested have tested negative.   

And, 53,288 are presumed recovered as of July 14.  A person is presumed recovered if it has been 14 days a since  that person  tested  positive and that person has been released from the hospital, or it has been more than 21 days  since a positive  result and hospital status is unknown. 

Currently statewide,  1,369 folks are hospitalized with 149 of those on ventilators.  Those who are hospitalized  also have underlying health issues such as  diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure  and heart disease. 

The state death toll is 3,351 with 2,264  of those in the 70 and over age group, 594  in the 60-69 age group, 297  in the 50-59 age group, 1121 in the 40-49 age group, 61 in the 30-39 age group, 11 in the 18-29 age group, and  four e under the age of 18.  Deaths are also attributed to folks with underlying health issues.

Natchitoches Parish positive cases total 443  with 14 reported deaths and  5,988  residents tested, which equates to  7.4  percent of those tested have tested positive and 92.6 percent of those tested have tested negative.

Sabine Parish  positive case  total  242  with one death and 3,981  residents tested, which equates to 6.07  percent of those tested have  tested positive and   93.93 percent of those tested have  tested negative. 

Vernon Parish  positive cases total 319  with 10 deaths and 6,110 residents tested, which equates to 5.2 percent of those tested have  tested positive and 94.8  percent of those tested have tested negative.   

In the United Sates, there are 3.48  million confirmed cases with 1.03 million presumes recovered and 138,000 deaths.  The U.S. estimated  population is  328 million which equates to  1.06  percent  of the U.S.  population has tested positive  for COVID-19.

According to the COVID tracking project, 42.5  million Americans have been tested.  The first confirmed COVID-19 case in the U.S. was  Jan. 20, 2020.

Worldwide, there are 13.4 million cases with 7.45  million presumed recovered and 580,000 deaths.