NEWS

Louisiana coronavirus: Hospitalizations fall on first day of Phase 2 reopening

Greg Hilburn
Monroe News-Star
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The sample was isolated from a patient in the U.S.

Coronavirus hospitalizations continued to fall in Louisiana Friday, the first day the state entered Phase 2 of reopening the economy.

The number of patients hospitalized Friday dropped by nine to 604. The number of patients on ventilators also fell by seven to 75.

Louisiana's Department of Health reported 29 more deaths Friday for a total of 2,801.

The state also reported 427 more cases Friday for a total of 41,989.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.