Low number of tests yields higher positive rate: seven cases in 93 tests

As state and national health officials are warning of a potential "Omicron wave" in the U.S. and Louisiana, Tuesday's COVID update for Avoyelles Parish could mean rough times ahead. However, due to the low number of tests in this report, it cannot be seen as an announcement that a "fifth wave" of the pandemic has arrived here. Still, the positive rate is disturbing, if not alarming.

The state will release its official positive rate for the parish, based on lab test results only, on Wednesday. Avoyelles Today will also look at the Wednesday-to-Wednesday results for the most recent totals in tomorrow's post on this website.

There were only 93 tests -- 32 lab tests and 61 rapid result tests. There were seven new cases -- three among the lab tests and four in the RRTs. The Tuesday update deviated from the usual daily reports in that rapid tests outnumbered lab tests and the positive rate for lab tests was higher than for the quick result tests. The overall positive rate for the Tuesday report is 7.5 percent. That is much higher than recent one-day reports, but lower that the statewide rate of 9.2 percent for Tuesday's update.

Statewide the number of new cases is increasing, with about half being in the New Orleans area. There were 1,729 new cases and three deaths in the statewide COVID update Tuesday.

Avoyelles' pandemic totals as of Tuesday were 7,454 infections and 181 deaths since March 2020. The state totals are 785,333 cases and 14,937 deaths.

The last totals for Omicron showed 124 cases with one in central Louisiana and three in Acadiana. Avoyelles has a foot in both regions. The reports from the state health department have not identified the parishes where the suspected variant cases have been found, so it is not known how close Omicron is to Avoyelles. Officials have said to expect the highly contagious, but apparently milder form, of the virus to make its presence known in the next few weeks at the latest.

The LDH and CDC are advising anyone who has not been vaccinated to do so and for those who have been vaccinated to get a booster shot as added protection against infection.