CORONAVIRUS cases in Orange County rose in Friday’s count but deaths, ICU use and hospitalizations declined (Shutterstock).

Coronavirus statistics released on Friday for Orange County showed improvement in three of four major categories.

According to the county health care agency, deaths declined from four on Thursday to three today. Hospitalizations slipped from 195 to 193 and the use of intensive care units for the treatment of COVID-19 patients declined from 53 to 49.

However, confirmed new cases rose from 314 to 325.

To provide context on the trajectory of the pandemic in Orange County, here is a week-to-week (Friday) comparison of new cases and deaths reported:

• New cases on Sept. 17 were 394 and deaths seven
• New cases on Sept. 24 were 356 and deaths 13
• New cases on Oct. 1 were 270 and deaths four
• New cases on Oct. 8 were 260 and deaths 12
• New cases on Oct. 15 were 244 and deaths five
• New cases on Oct. 22 were 104* and deaths 12
• New cases on Oct. 29 are 325 and deaths three.

To date, Orange County has had 304,693 cases, of which 293,222 cases are considered recovered. Deaths are at 5,595.

Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that new cases are down 16 percent and deaths down 13 percent over a 14-day period. In California, Los Angeles Times reports that cases are up 8 percent and deaths 1 percent over a similar time frame.

* Case count was unusually low because of a delay in reporting.