RECORD HIGHS are reached in total cases and deaths, but new cases are down in Orange County (Shutterstock).

Good news and not-so-good news continued to be mixed in the daily report on the coronavirus pandemic in Orange County.

The county health care agency’s numbers today (Wednesday) show milestones of total cases passing a half-million (501,510) and deaths reaching 6,000 (6,006).  Deaths increased to 28, up sharply from 10 the day before.

But new cases in Wednesday’s tally were down to 2,592 from Tuesday’s 2,864 and Monday’s three-day average of 6,309. Hospitalizations fell from 1,114 to 1,006 and the count of patients being treated for the COVID-19 virus in intensive care units declined from 191 to 179.

Nationally, The New York Times reports that – over a two-week period – new cases are up 14 percent, while deaths have risen 35 percent. In California, new cases are down 8 percent, while deaths have increased 26 percent, according to Los Angeles Times.