HAND-WASHING, mask-wearing and social distancing are still weapons against the spread of coronavirus, along with vaccination, say health officials (Pexels/Cottonbro).

To our readers: Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Orange County Health Agency will not be posting any more statistics until Monday. Nov. 29. We’ll resume our coverage on that day.

Two of the major metrics tracking the coronavirus pandemic in Orange County showed improvement on Wednesday and two went the other direction.

New cases rose to 180 from 151 the day before. Deaths rose from two to nine. Hospitalizations declined from 187 to 179 and the treatment of COVID-19 patients in intensive care went from 49 to 45.

To date, Orange County has had 311,397 cases of coronavirus, of which 299,609 are considered recovered. The total of deaths is at 5,675.

Across the United States, new cases are up 25 percent and deaths are down 8 percent over a 14-day period, according to The New York Times. In California – over a similar period – new cases are down 23 percent and deaths up 46 percent, according to Los Angeles Times.