CORONAVIRUS cases in Orange County continue to decline, but hospital use is up, according to the county health agency (Shutterstock/Mongkolchan).

New confirmed cases of the coronavirus continue to decline in Orange County, but hospitalizations and ICU use continue to rise.

According to the county health care agency, cases reported on Tuesday were at 668, down from 777 (the average of three days) on Monday. Deaths rose from two to three.

However, hospitalizations rose from 538 to 549 and the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units went from 124 to 126.

To date, Orange County has had 276,632 cases, of which 255,698 are considered recovered. Deaths are at 5,161.

Nationally, new cases are up 64 percent and deaths by 106 percent over a 14-day period, according to The New York Times. In California, cases are up by 33 percent and deaths by 79 percent, reports the Los Angeles Times, over a similar period.