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Fewer than 1,700 COVID-19 patients are now hospitalized in Louisiana, according to statistics released Monday by the Louisiana Department of Health.

On Monday at noon, the LDH reported that the state had 1,683 patients in hospitals, and 262 of those patients required ventilators. On Sunday, the state had reported 1,701 hospitalized patients, and 265 ventilators in use.

Friday’s report listed 1,697 patients, but the census jumped back over 1,700 the next few days (1,700 on Saturday, 1,701 on Sunday), before dropping back below 1,700 on Monday.

Monday’s report was the smallest hospital census of COVID-19 patients since April 2, when there was 1,639 patients hospitalized.

On Monday, the LDH said that there had been 27,068 cases of COVID-19 reported, with 1,697 deaths. On Sunday, there had been 26,773 cases and 1,670 deaths reported.

The increase between Sunday’s statewide update and Monday’s update was an additional 295 cases and an additional 27 deaths. Sunday’s increase was an additional 261 cases and an additional 26 deaths (there was 26,512 cases and 1,644 deaths in Saturday’s report).

Washington Parish had reported 253 cases and 18 deaths, according to the Monday update. On Sunday, the parish had reported 245 cases and 14 deaths.

There had been 1,172 cases in St. Tammany Parish, with 100 deaths, and 535 cases in Tangipahoa Parish, with 21 deaths.

There had been 1,228 COVID-19 tests reported from Washington Parish, as of Monday’s update.

The state has also begun reporting the number of “presumed recovered” cases. Its first update was on April 22, when it reported 14,927 such cases. Monday’s report listed 17,303 presumed reported cases as of April 26 (Sunday).

The LDH releases updated statistics each day at approximately noon. For complete statistics, visit the LDH online at ldh.la.gov/coronavirus.