The first presumptive case of the new coronavirus in St. Tammany Parish is a patient who is being treated at Slidell Memorial Hospital, officials there confirmed Wednesday.

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the case Tuesday night in a news release that upped the count of confirmed cases in the state to six.

The patient is being treated in an isolation room and staff members are following infection control protocols, a hospital spokesman said.

+2 Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans treating 'presumptive positive' coronavirus patient Yet another local hospital is caring for a patient who has a presumptive case of the new coronavirus.

"SMH has been preparing for this situation, working closely with the Louisiana Office of Public Health, as well as other local, state and federal agencies," Sam Caruso Jr. said in a news release. "The health and safety of our employees and patients is our top priority. We want to thank our incredible group of highly trained staff who acted immediately and appropriately."

The hospital and its clinics remain open, he said, and anyone with questions about their appointments or procedures should contact their provider.

During a legislative hearing Wednesday, Sen. Beth Mizell, whose district includes part of St. Tammany Parish, asked why a New Orleans resident was being treated in her district.

Dr. Alex Billioux of the state Department of Health, replied that the patient simply happened to be in St. Tammany when they were hospitalized and that they were not moved there after the fact.