The State of Louisiana’s war against a growing number of residents sick with the COVID-19 coronavirus has gotten worse as numbers of cases and deaths keep climbing.

Currently the state reported Saturday afternoon a total of 12,496 cases, that figure was up 2,199 cases since yesterday. Louisiana’s death toll for the virus is 409, an increase of 39 fatalities since yesterday.

The virus has been detected in all but three of the states 64 parishes, the state health officials reported.

A total of 1,7,26 coronavirus cases are currently hospitalized in the state. Of those, 571 are on ventilators.

To date, Louisiana has received a total of 553 ventilators. The first shipment from SNS of 150 ventilators was announced on March 30 and arrived days later.

• 150 – SNS (an additional 200 ventilators are expected soon)
• 400 – Private vendors
• 3 – Louisiana National Guard

Across the South, the number of cases of the coronavirus continue to drive higher as well.

Here are the results through Saturday afternoon:

Alabama: 1,569 positive cases, 43 deaths.
Arkansas: 743 positive cases, 12 deaths.
Florida: 10,760 positive cases, 191 deaths.
Georgia: 6,160 positive cases, 201 deaths.
Louisiana: 12,496 positive cases, 409 deaths.
Mississippi: 1,455 positive cases, 35 deaths.
Tennessee: 3,067 positives cases, 37 deaths.
Texas: 6,110 positive cases, 105 deaths.

Total cases across the Deep South: 42,360.

The number of people infected worldwide surpassed the 1.17 million mark. Deaths were more than 63,800, but the number of people considered recovered reached more than 237,000, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

The University’s tracking shows approximately 297,000 cases in the U.S., making the U.S. the country with the highest number of cases in the world.

Everyone is warned to take the necessary precautions to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and stay safe and healthy.

These precautions include:

• Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds and frequently
• Covering your cough or sneeze with your arm
• Avoiding touching your face
• Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
• Avoiding close contact with others
• And staying home if you are sick