Local cases still increasing

Diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in Lincoln Parish continued their now almost daily rise Monday.

According to the latest report from the Louisiana Department of Health, 241 cases of the potentially deadly respiratory illness have been confirmed in the parish since the count began in March.

The number has gone up steadily since June 1, but so has testing. More than 300 people have been tested locally through state-sponsored tests alone.

However, because those testing opportunities were open to all Louisiana residents, the total may include people from other parishes.

Officials continue to attribute the rise in cases to the increased testing.

Meanwhile, even more public testing that had been scheduled this week in Lincoln Parish has been cancelled and redirected to nursing homes. The switch is part of the state’s goal to test every nursing home resident, even if they don’t show symptoms.

According to the figures released Monday by LDH, COVID-19 cases have not increased at any of the three local nursing homes since the state resumed posting nursing home reports the week of May 18.

Alpine Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation has had one resident with COVID-19, and the resident recovered; Princeton Place, six cases, with one recovery and three deaths; and Ruston Nursing and Rehabilitation, one case. That patient also recovered.

The only change has been in COVID-19 cases among staff. Alpine is now reporting a total of 12 cases, up two from last week, and five recoveries.

Neither of the other facilities reported any new staff cases. According to the LDH, all staff members who had the virus at the other two facilities have recovered.