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The state of Louisiana reported just nine deaths from COVID-19 Friday, marking the seventh-straight day of 20 or fewer new deaths, according to statistics released Friday by the Louisiana Department of Health.

The state said Friday that there had been 44,995 cases of COVID-19 reported, with 2,883 deaths. On Thursday, there had been 44,472 cases and 2,874 deaths reported.

The increase between Thursday’s statewide update and Friday’s update was an additional 523 cases and an additional nine deaths.

Friday’s report marked a full week of 20-or-fewer deaths. On Friday, June 5, the state reported 29 new deaths. The next seven days had reports of 13, 11, six, 13, 11, 19 and nine deaths.

The single highest day for deaths since the start of COVID-19 pandemic was April 14, when there were 129 new deaths reported.

Friday also saw decreases in the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients as well as patients on ventilators.

The LDH said at noon Friday that the state had 549 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and 74 of those patients required ventilators. On Thursday, the state reported 553 hospitalizations and 77 ventilators in use.

The numbers of hospitalizations and ventilators in use have fluctuated in recent days, but overall show significant declines since the start of the month. On June 1, there were 661 hospitalized patients and 86 of those patients required ventilators. Every day since has seen a lower number reported in both categories — with the exception of June 3, when the same number of 86 ventilators in use was reported.

The peak number of hospitalized patients was 2,134 on April 13. The peak number of ventilators in use was 571 on April 4.

Washington Parish had reported 520 cases and 43 deaths, according to the Friday update. The parish also reported 5,505 COVID-19 tests.

In Friday’s update, the LDH said that 26,670 tests had been reported from the state laboratory, and an additional 452,864 tests had been reported from commercial laboratories — a total of 479,534 tests. The state had reported a total of 469,673 tests in Thursday’s update — a difference of 9,861 tests.

The LDH reported Friday that there are 33,904 presumed recovered cases of COVID-19, as of its June 6 update.

A person is presumed to have recovered if:

• It has been more than 14 days, since he/she tested positive and he/she is not currently in the hospital or deceased (when hospital status is known), or
• It has been more than 21 days, since he/she tested positive and he/she is not deceased (when hospital status is unknown).

The previous report was released on May 31, with 31,728 presumed recovered cases — a difference of 2,176 additional recoveries.

Gov. John Bel Edwards will decide later this month if Louisiana will move to “Phase Three” of re-opening, after the current order expires on Friday, June 26.

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