Fed report: Lincoln Parish in ‘red zone’

Lincoln Parish remains in the red zone for COVID-19, according to the White House Coronavirus Task Force report sent to Louisiana last week.

At the time the report was issued on July 27, the parish met the criteria for percentage of new cases and had a diagnostic positivity rate of more than 10%.

Since then, the number of cases has jumped by 79, surpassing the 700-case mark. As of noon Monday, the parish had a cumulative total of 720 cases, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. That number dates back to the first local cases in March.

The number also reflects 25 new cases recorded over the weekend.

Though last week’s task force report placed all of Louisiana in the red zone, not all parishes were red. Some, including Lincoln Parish neighbors Union and Claiborne parishes were tagged yellow.

That meant for the time period studied, their case and positivity growth rates were statistically lower than the red parishes.

The policy recommendations in the report show federal officials pushing more stringent rules in Louisiana than the rules under which the state is now operating. For example, gatherings would be limited to 10 people, and gyms would be closed.

Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to announce this week whether the state will remain in Phase Two of reopening and continue its mask mandate. In a press conference last week, Edwards hinted Louisianans should not expect any major changes. The current Phase Two and mask mandate orders expire Friday.

For the most part, Louisiana has been following the federal coronavirus task force recommendations for reopening. The task force submits weekly reports to each state reacting to the state’s coronavirus situation at the time.