NEW CASES OF coronavirus are up in Friday’s report (Shutterstock).

The daily average of new coronavirus cases in Orange County took a sharp turn upward in Friday’s report.

According to the county health care agency, there were 3,720 confirmed new cases in the three-day period closing June 23. That works out to an average daily total of 1,240. The previous average (reported on Tuesday) was 897.

Deaths fell from nine to six and hospitalizations increased from 175 to 179. The use of intensive care units to treat COVID-19 patients ticked up from 23 to 25.

To date, Orange County has had 596,541 cases, of which 564,963 are considered recovered. The death total is 7,097.

Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that – over a 14-day period – new cases have declined by 9 percent and deaths by 5 percent. In California – according to Los Angeles Times – new cases are down by 12 percent and deaths by 6 percent over a similar period.