Wednesday update for Avoyelles: six cases out of 69 tests; official positive rate drops to 3.4 percent

All things considered, Avoyelles Parish had reason to feel optimistic Wednesday when the mid-week COVID update was released.

As has been the case in most one-day reports, there were less than 100 test results in the update and less than 10 new cases.

On Wednesday there were a total of 69 tests and six new cases of COVID. Of those, four positives were among 60 lab test and there were two positives out of nine rapid result tests.

The only one of the nine parishes in the Avoyelles neighborhood still rated at high risk is Rapides. There was no rating given for Catahoula and Concordia. Avoyelles and its other five neighbors were all deemed at moderate risk.

After several weeks of seeing its weekly positive rate climb higher -- from 1 percent to 3.5 percent over the past weeks -- Avoyelles saw a drop in the rate for the seven days of May 13-19. The rate dipped from 3.5 percent for May 6-12 to 3.4 percent for the most recent review period.

Another positive indicator announced Wednesday was the Avoyelles Parish School District's decision to lift the mask mandate in schools and other district buildings. Students, employees and visitors who feel more comfortable or have not been vaccinated still have the option to wear a protective face mask.

As of Wednesday, the parish's pandemic totals were 4,272 cases (3,710 / 562) and 123 deaths (115 / 8). The state totals were 469,864 cases and 10,562 deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020.