NEW CASES of coronavirus in Orange County are up in Friday’s report, but other categories show declines (Shutterstock).

The count of confirmed new cases of coronavirus in Orange County is headed in one direction, and the tallies of other major measurements are going in a different direction.

According to the county health care agency, new cases spiked to 449 on Friday, up from 316 on Thursday. But deaths fell from seven to five and hospitalizations declined from 201 to 198.

The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units dropped from 58 to 56.

So far, the OC has experienced 318,831 cases of coronavirus, of which 305,700 and considered to be recovered. The total of deaths is 5,851.

Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that – over the past 14 days – new cases have shown an average increase in coronavirus cases of 31 percent and a 23 percent increase in deaths.

In California, new cases are down 5 percent and deaths by 28 percent, as calculated by Los Angeles Times over a similar period.