Local COVID deaths, cases continue to climb

COVID-19 continues to claim lives in Lincoln Parish.

The confirmed death toll now stands at 99 since the pandemic began last year, according to figures released Monday by the Louisiana Department of Health. The new number marks the fourth time this month the count has increased.

Probable deaths — those linked to COVID but not proven — have also gone up by two since Sept. 3.

All totaled, the confirmed and probable death toll stands at 111.

Meantime, confirmed local cases of the respiratory virus continue their almost daily double-digit climb. The total now stands at 4,429; that’s 24 more cases than were reported on Friday, and 239 new cases so far this month.

Yet both state and federal health agencies show the number of fully vaccinated Lincoln Parish residents is also up.

Some 34% of eligible residents are vaccinated, according the LDH and the Center for Disease Control. That’s a 3% increase since early August.