3 of 4 metrics look better

Three of four metrics used to track the status of the coronavirus pandemic in Orange County showed improvement in Tuesday’s report, including the much-watched count of new cases.

According to the county health care agency, confirmed new cases were at 239, a drop from Monday’s three-day average of 291. Deaths were up from three to five.

However, hospitalizations fell from 231 to 225 and the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units declined from 56 to 53.

To date, Orange County has had 307,770 cases, of which 295,795 are considered recovered. The death total is 5,632.

At the national level, The New York Times is reporting that – over a 14-day period – new cases are up 5 percent and deaths down by 15 percent. In California, according to Los Angeles Times, new cases are up 84 percent and deaths down 4 percent over a similar period.