Avoyelles rated as 'moderate risk,' despite increase in COVID-positive rate

Avoyelles Parish improved its COVID risk rating this week, moving from "high" to "moderate." That change occurred despite a jump in the weekly positive rate in the parish's COVID tests.
Wednesday's update from the state showed three new cases in 180 tests -- one positive lab test out of 129 and two rapid result test positives out of 51. There were no additional deaths.
As of Wednesday, the parish's 14-month pandemic totals were 4,243 cases since March 2020. Of those, 3,693 were "confirmed" by lab tests and 550 were deemed "probable" from positive rapid result tests. The death toll remained at 123, with 115 "confirmed" as COVID-related and eight classified as "probable" for the virus.
The weekly positive rate for May 6-12 was 3.4 percent, up from 2.3 percent for April 29-May 5. However, the parish's risk rating fell from 61.79 to 46.96 for those same periods.