Omicron fights back: Avoyelles has 20 new cases, 2 deaths in Thursday update

It seems that just when you think COVID is in full retreat, the pandemic takes a turn to remind you of just how persistent the two-year scourge can be.

Thursday was one of those moments for Avoyelles Parish. Just as it appeared the parish would slip into single-digit increases as the Omicron wave subsides, the daily update from the state health department reported 20 new cases of COVID and two more COVID-related deaths in the Thursday count.

Of the 20 new cases, 15 were first-time victims and five were reinfections of individuals who had COVID earlier in the pandemic.

As of Thursday, Avoyelles' 23-month totals for the pandemic showed 11,503 total cases involving 10,714 individuals with 789 reinfections. The death toll increased to 197.

Assuming only one reinfection per repeat victim, approximately 7.4 percent of Avoyelles Parish residents who have had COVID have been reinfected during the Omicron wave. The parsh's COVID-related death rate, including reinfections, is 1.7 percent. Looking at only the rate among individual victims, the death rate is 1.8 percent.