NEW CASES of coronavirus in Orange County fell on Thursday’s count after a big increase on Wednesday (Shutterstock).

The roller coaster ride of statistics on the coronavirus in Orange County continued on Thursday, as new cases dropped steeply after a major increase the day before.

According to the county health care agency, the count of new cases fell to 317 from Wednesday’s high of 946. Deaths ticked up from 19 to 20, but hospitalizations fell from 331 to 299.

Additionally, the number of people being treated for COVID-19 intensive care units declined from 68 to 63.

To date, Orange County has had 537,198 confirmed coronavirus cases, of which 512,687 are considered recovered. The death toll is at 6,544.

The latest update showed that 2.4 million Orange County residents (out of a population of 3.1 people) have been fully vaccinated. A total of 1.19 million Orange Countians have received booster shots, reports the OCHCA.

Nationally, new cases – over a 14-day period – have fallen by 66 percent and deaths by 26 percent, according to The New York Times. In California, Los Angeles Times reports a 71 percent drop in new cases and a 6 percent decline in deaths.