COVID numbers are “mixed”

“Mixed results” may be the best way to describe the recent numbers about the coronavirus pandemic in Orange County.

According to the county health care agency, Tuesday’s count of confirmed new cases took a big leap from Monday’s three-day average of 344 (The OCHCA does not post results over the weekend) to 433.

Hospitalizations rose slightly from 309 to 311, but deaths declined from eight to three and the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units slipped from 100 to 95.

To date, Orange County has had 294,308 cases of coronavirus, of which 278,641 are considered recovered. The death total is at 5,355.

At the national and state levels, the numbers also reflect mixed signals. The New York Times is reporting that in the U.S. new cases – over a 14-day period – have increased 4 percent, reversing days of decreases. Deaths are up 51 percent.

In California, the Los Angeles Times is reporting that new cases – over a similar period – are declined 39 percent and deaths increased by 10 percent.