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

Confirmed new cases of coronavirus and deaths in Orange County dropped in Tuesday’s report, but hospitalizations and ICU use increased.

According to the county health care agency, new cases fell from Monday’s three-day average of 508 to 355 and deaths declined from 18 to five. Hospitalizations increased from 546 to 556 and the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units went from 139 to 150.

To date, Orange County has had 285,453 cases, of which 264,387 are considered recovered. Deaths are at 5,225.

Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that – over a 14-day span – new cases are up 12 percent and deaths up 91 percent. In California, Los Angeles Times calculates that new cases has risen 6 percent and deaths by 94 percent over a similar period.