ORANGE COUNTY statistics on coronavirus on Wednesday showed an increase in new cases (Shutterstock).

A string of three days of better news on new coronavirus cases in Orange County was snapped today (Wednesday).

According to the county health care agency, the latest daily tally is 341, nearly double Tuesday’s sum of 183.  Deaths dropped from four to one and hospitalizations increased from 210 to 216.

The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units slipped from 55 to 52.

Since the pandemic began, Orange County has had 309,769 cases, of which 297,662 are considered recovered. The death total is at 5,653.

Across the United States, new cases have risen by 18 percent and deaths declined by 15 percent over a 14-day period, according to The New York Times. In California –over a similar period – new cases are down 24 percent but deaths up 53 percent, reports Los Angeles Times.