THREE of four categories tracking the status of the coronavirus in Orange County showed increases (Shutterstock).

Are we taking off our masks too early?

Too soon to tell, but new cases and deaths from coronavirus have risen in Orange County for two days in a row.

According to the county health care agency, the number of confirmed new cases hit 521 on Friday, up from 314 on Thursday and 279 on Wednesday.

Deaths rose to 19 on Friday, up from 17 on Thursday and eight on Wednesday. Hospitalizations inched upwards to 163 from 160, but cases being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units declined to 28 from 29.

So far, the OCHCA totals 542,577 cases, of which 528,786 are considered recovered. The death sum is 6,740.

Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that new cases – over a 14-day-period – are down 51 percent and deaths down 31 percent. In California, Los Angeles Times reports new cases to be down 57 percent and deaths down by 11 percent.