The Acadiana region is outpacing other regions of the state in new COVID-19 cases. The region’s case count of Tuesday was the highest on record and Dr. Tina Stefanski, regional medical director of the Office of Public Health in Acadiana, believes the area is just late to see the first wave.
“This just might be the natural next step where we see this increase in our region of the state when we didn’t see it before when other parts of the state were experiencing increases,” said Stafanski.
On Tuesday, 354 cases came from the region, making up more than a quarter of the state’s total case count, nearly double the share of the next highest region.
Of the tests taken in the region, 11.1% came back positive, higher than the federal recommendations in moving forward in economic reopening. Stefanski says the age groups that are the most problematic are the younger demographics.
“It’s true for our state and really much of the country that we see the largest increase among young adults, so 18- to 29-year-olds, followed by less than 18-year-olds, and then 30 to 39,” said Stefanski.
Stafanski hopes that young adults will begin to heed the advice of health officials by avoiding crowds and limiting activities, as it will help protect those most at risk for poor outcomes.
“It’s a challenge but we really want young people to realize that the actions that they take can impact other individuals and certainly when they are around there parents or grandparents who have high risk conditions, maintain a distance,” said Stefanski.
The region’s hospitalizations have increased by 40% in four days.
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