CORONAVIRUS statistics in Orange County for Thursday showed three of four major categories in decline (Shutterstock)

After Wednesday’s big leap in new coronavirus cases in Orange County, Thursday’s report showed a big drop.

According to the county health care agency, the number of new confirmed cases dropped to 211 after Wednesday’s rise to 384.

Hospitalizations dipped from 224 to 220 and the use of intensive care units to treat COVID-19 units fell from 60 to 54. The only metric showing an increase is deaths, up from seven to nine.

To date, Orange County has had 299,334 cases of coronavirus, of which 286,423 have been judged recovered. Deaths are at 5,463.

Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that – over a 14-day period – new cases are down 23 percent and deaths down 13 percent.  In California, cases have declined 28 percent and deaths by 12 percent, according to Los Angeles Times, over a similar period.