Mixed results on OC virus status

NEW CASES of coronavirus in Orange County rosein Friday’s report from the OCHCA after several days of declines (Shutterstock).

The news was mixed Friday on the status of the coronavirus pandemic in Orange County.

Confirmed new cases of the virus, after falling for several days, rose again according to the county health care agency. The count went from 1,265 on Thursday to 2,795 on Friday.

However, the three other major metrics declined. Deaths continued to decrease, with the latest total at 12, down from 14 on Thursday and 16 on Wednesday. Hospitalizations fell from 818 to 746 and the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units declined from 147 to 134.

To date, Orange County has had 524,226 cases, of which 420,416 are considered recovered. The total of deaths is at 6,152. Nationally, The New York Times reports that cases have – over a 14-day period – decline by 52 percent. Deaths have risen 30 percent. In California, Los Angeles Times reports that new cases have fallen 59 percent, while deaths have increased by 53 percent over a similar period of time.