CORONAVIRUS cases in Orange County declined on Thursday, as did the number of patients in intensive care units (Shutterstock/Mongkolchan).

After a one-day spike, new coronavirus cases in Orange County took a sharp drop on Thursday.

According to the county health care agency, new cases fell from 341 on Wednesday to 200 today.  Deaths, however, rose from one to six. Hospitalizations dipped from 216 to 208 and the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units fell from 52 to 49.

To date, Orange County has had 309,969 cases, of which 297,972 are considered recovered. The death toll is at 5,669.

Across the nation, new cases rose by 23 percent over a 14-day period, according to The New York Times. Deaths were down 13 percent.

In California, new cases are down by 22 percent, reports Los Angeles Times and but deaths have risen 67 percent over a similar period.