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LAPLACE — As of the Wednesday update from the Louisiana Department of Health, there have been 432 reported cases of COVID-19 and 35 deaths in St. John the Baptist Parish. 

On Tuesday, there were 415 recorded cases and 34 deaths in St. John Parish. 

As of Wednesday at noon, St. Charles Parish has 328 reported cases and 19 deaths, while St. James has 181 reported cases and seven deaths. 

Statewide, there are 17,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 63 parishes. This marks an increase of 746 cases since yesterday’s report. 

One Louisiana parish has not reported cases, though Governor John Bel Edwards said he is certain the virus has spread in all 64 parishes. There have been 652 deaths, up 70 from Monday. The first death in the state was reported on March 14. 

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, there are 1,983 COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the state. Of these patients, 490 are on ventilators. 

This data is updated daily at noon. 

Edwards has extended his Stay At Home order for Louisiana residents through April 30. To read the full order, visit https://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/Proclamations/2020/JBE-33-2020.pdf. 

Testing

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing is now offered three days a week in St. John the Baptist Parish Tuesday through Thursday. 

Drive-thru testing is offered to St. John the Baptist Parish residents who are symptomatic from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., or until the day’s allotted tests have been administered, at the Ochsner Medical Complex – River Parishes at 1900 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace. 

Testing is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

To receive drive-thru testing, residents must be 18 years or older and experience symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Patients will need to provide a valid state ID or driver’s license to prove they live in St. John Parish. 

Residents should enter the drive-thru testing location through the rear entrance of the Ochsner Medical Complex – River Parishes parking lot, and patients must remain in their vehicles for testing. An Ochsner provider will contact the patient with the results once they become available. 

While test kits are limited for drive-thru testing for symptomatic residents, Ochsner will continue to offer testing at Ochsner Medical Complex – River Parishes with a physician’s order from a patient’s primary care provider or in the freestanding emergency department. 

St. John residents who have received a physician’s order for COVID-19 testing will have a scheduled appointment at the Ochsner Medical Complex – River Parishes location between 1 and 4 p.m. Patients must provide a driver’s license or an ID to prove residency in St. John Parish. 

The frequency of testing will be evaluated on a week-by-week basis based on community need, according to Parish President Jaclyn Hotard. 

Patients and caregivers are reminded to follow the steps below should they have symptoms or concerns about COVID-19 before going to an emergency department, clinic or drive-thru testing site: 

• Call the free Ochsner information line at 844-888-2772 for 24/7 advice and COVID-19 information 
• Established Ochsner patients can schedule a video visit with their provider and send secure messages via MyOchsner 
• New patients can see a provider over video through www.ochsner.org/virtualvisits or via the Ochsner Anywhere Care app.