Officials have confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in Evangeline Parish.
Parish Police Jury President Ryan Leday Williams says that the positive case was confirmed on Friday, March 20 by Dr. Tina Stefanski, regional medical director for the Office of Public Health.
The individually is reportedly quarantined at this time.
No other information on the patient was given due to HIPAA laws.
"We knew eventually we would get a positive test and have been preparing and encouraging everyone to be prepared as well, " says Williams. "this is no cause for panic. We must stay vigilante in social distancing and sanitizing."
Williams encourages anyone in the parish to call their health care provider if they have a fever or respiratory symptoms and difficulty breathing.
Evangeline joins Lafayette, St. Landry, Iberia and Calcasieu Parishes with confirmed cases.
On Friday morning , the Louisiana Department of Health was reporting 479 cases of the coronavirus in the state. There were 10 deaths.
