Some good news on COVID

All four major metrics tracking the course of the coronavirus pandemic in Orange County showed improvement in Thursday’s reports.

According to the county health care agency, confirmed new cases fell to 1,264 from 1,529 on Wednesday. Deaths declined from 16 to 14. Hospitalizations went from 846 to 818.

The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units skidded from 161 to 147.

To date, Orange County has had 521,431 cases, of which 410,516 are considered recovered. The total of deaths is at 6,140.

Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that – over a 14-day period – new cases are down 49 percent and deaths up 35 percent. In California, new cases are down 52 percent and deaths by 92 percent.