NEW ORLEANS — City health officials say that the number of new COVID-19 infections in New Orleans is growing at a faster rate than any other U.S. city.

"Positive cases are increasing and we anticipate them increasing every day and even within hours," said Mayor Latoya Cantrell during a press conference on Sunday.

Since Monday the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city has grown to 75, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. It's the highest concentration of cases in the state. As of Sunday there were 103 total cases statewide. Jefferson Parish had the second largest concentration with 14 cases.

"We are seeing significant community spread that has already resulted in two deaths," New Orleans director of public health Dr. Jennifer Avegno said during a press conference on Sunday.

Two men in their 50s died over the weekend in New Orleans, marking the first deaths related to COVID-19 in Louisiana.

"The rate of infection is increasing much faster here than in other cities in the U.S.," Avegno said. "It's a trend we are seeing that can not be ignored."

The city is one of four, including Dallas, Philadelphia and Seattle, in the U.S. to qualify as part of a pilot program with the Department of Health and Human Services to set up drive thru testing sites for COVID-19 that will be set up in New Orleans as soon as the middle of this week, according to city officials.

As anticipated, city officials have also issued rules to limit the number of people going to restaurants in New Orleans. Full-service restaurants are being asked to close at 9 p.m. and reduce seating by 50 percent. Businesses are allowed to offer delivery after the dining room closes. Bars and nightclubs are also being asked to close by 12 a.m., with last call at 11:15 p.m., as well as reduce the number of patrons by 50 percent, according to a press release issued by the City of New Orleans.

This is part of a massive effort to enforce what epidemiologists call 'social distancing'. It's a public health measure that is intended to lower the number of new cases by limiting the chance of new infections.

In less than a week, residents who can have been asked to work from home, parades and public events like the French Quarter Festival and BUKU festival have been postponed, and large public gatherings over 250 people have been banned in an effort to reduce the number of new infections.

While COVID-19, a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, appears to primarily affect the elderly and individuals with chronic medical conditions, people can also be infected with it but be asymptomatic. This makes it easier for the virus to spread and possibly infect people who are at higher risk for getting severely ill.

"We all have a role to play, every business owner, every resident," said Cantrell.

With the number of novel coronavirus cases expected to continue rising, state officials have already started preparing for a possible surge of patients.

Cantrell alluded to potentially using public buildings like New Orleans' libraries as additional space to care for patients.

Avegno added that officials are trying to avoid a physician and nurse shortage by building out a network of volunteers of licensed medical and behavioral health personnel to work in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Efforts are also underway to identify even retired healthcare providers who can be brought in to help with patients as the outbreak in New Orleans grows.

"Healthcare facilities can become overwhelmed very quickly— we are in contact with all of our hospitals to identify what they need to do going forward," said Avegno.

On Saturday, state park officials announced that Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego, just 20 minutes from downtown New Orleans, will be used as an isolation area for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities who have tested positive for the virus and need to be quarantined for 14 days.

A spokesperson for the department said the park will be used as overflow in addition to the 20 extra overflow beds health authorities have set up to isolate patients in New Orleans.

On Saturday park rangers and state police started clearing out the park which has 16 cabins as well as 98 campsites with water and gas hookups available, should authorities need to bring in portable buildings, according to the parks department.

The quick and steady increase in cases in New Orleans has led to necessary public health measures that have disrupted life for residents and visitors across the metro area. All weekend public events were cancelled in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, schools have been closed, and people are being asked to maintain social distance to slow the rate of new infections.

Despite repeated requests from officials to avoid large public gatherings while health workers try to tame the growing outbreak, hundreds of people gathered around bars in the Irish Channel neighborhood and on Bourbon Street on Saturday. New Orleans police were called in to break up the gatherings Saturday evening, according to the City of New Orleans.

City officials commended Mardi Gras Indian tribes in New Orleans who followed orders and did not go ahead with Super Sunday festivities which were also cancelled on Sunday.

Residents can find information regarding food assistance, legal help with evictions, health resources and more by visiting the NOLA Ready webpage.

"Public health officials are asking the public to call their primary care provider before going to an emergency room or doctor's office. People without a primary care provider who have questions about COVID-19 or feel like they may be developing symptoms can contact 1-211 or text LACOVID to 898-211 for information."

This story has been updated

Maria Clark is a general assignment reporter with The American South. Story ideas, tips, questions? Email her at mclark@theadvertiser.com or follow her on Twitter @MariaPClark1. Sign up for The American South newsletter.