CORONAVIRUS statistics in Orange County for Thursday showed new cases in decline (Shutterstock)

New confirmed cases of coronavirus in Orange County declined for the fourth consecutive day, but hospitalizations and use of intensive care units continue to increase.

According to Thursday’s report from the county health care agency, new cases fell sharply to 465 from 612 on Wednesday. Deaths increased from zero to two. Hospitalizations ticked up from 495 to 497 and the treatment of patients for COVID-19 in ICUs went from 96 to 126.

To date, coronavirus cases in the OC now total 272,914, of which 254,007 are considered recovered. The total of deaths is at 5,154.

At the national level, new cases have risen 86 percent over a 14-day period, according to The New York Times, and deaths have increased 75 percent. But those statistics show an improvement over recent weeks when the increases typically ran in triple figures.

A similar change is reflected in California statistics, as compiled by the Los Angeles Times.  New cases have risen 58 percent, reports the Times, and deaths by 54.6 percent.