It’s another new coronavirus high

Another record high of new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday by the Orange County Health Care Agency, but that number comes with an asterisk.

The figure reported is 1,333, breaking old mark of 1,208 reported on Monday, but the manner of reporting is a little more complicated than might first appear.

A note on today’s dashboard of case counts reads as follows:

Cases reported today are allotted to the date on when the individuals had their positive test specimen collected (specimen collection date). Labs can be delayed in reporting this information into the State CalREDIE reporting and surveillance system, which causes a delay in the County’s ability to report the data. Deaths reported today are allotted to the date when the person passed away (date of death), and only after the date of death is certified by the Orange County Office of Vital Records, which can take up to 8 days as required by California law. This process can cause a delay in the County’s ability to report the data.

In other words, the date of confirmed case or a death from COVID-19 are not usually the same day as is reported on the OCHCA website’s “front page.”

The report brings the total of cumulative cases to date to 20,225. Of that number, 9,174 are considered to be recovered.

Seven new deaths are reflected in Wednesday’s report; the total is now at 376 for Orange County.

The key measure of “test positivity” – reflecting what percentage of those tested are found to be “positive” for the infection – is now at 14.9 percent. The “acceptable” threshold is at 8 percent. On the other hand, the change in the three-day average in hospitalized patients has fallen to 9.4 percent, now within the threshold of 10 percent.

Wednesday’s daily count by city shows the top five cities in number of cases. Deaths are in parentheses:

• Santa Ana: 3,930 (101).
• Anaheim: 3,638 (91).
• Garden Grove: 1,064 (11).
• Huntington Beach: 993 (40).
• Orange: 939 (15).

Also Westminster has had 386 cases and 12 deaths; Stanton has 232 and three deaths.

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