While the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Warren County have crept higher in recent days, reaching a pandemic total of 158 cases as of Tuesday, the number of cases in neighboring Madison Parish has grown significantly.

At the end of April, the Louisiana Department of Health showed just seven confirmed COVID-19 cases in the parish. Two weeks later, on May 14, there were 18 confirmed cases.

In the 11 days since the numbers have spiked, and as of Tuesday the parish was reporting 70 confirmed cases.

“Madison Parish residents are strongly encouraged to continue practicing social distancing, wearing masks in public and hand washing,” the city of Tallulah said Monday in a post on its Facebook page. “Our numbers continue to increase. Please be safe and practice all safety guidelines.”

Even with the spike in numbers recently, the parish has yet to report a virus-related death.

State health officials, along with officials with the city of Tallulah announced there will be COVID-19 testing conducted Tuesday at the Richmond Civic Center from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

In its reporting Monday, the Louisiana Department of Health announced the number of cases reported in the state during the pandemic has reached 37,809. It also reported the number of deaths in the state now stands at 2,585.