ORANGE COUNTY Health Care Agency stats on coronavirus still showing a downward trend in new cases (Shutterstock).

The tally of new coronavirus cases in Orange County continued to slide in Tuesday’s report from the county health care agency.

According to the calculations of the OCHCA, new cases for the four-day period of Aug. 5-8 totaled 2,978, which averages to 744.5 per day (rounded to 745).

That compares to daily averages of 955 in Friday’s report and 927 a week ago.

Deaths declined from 21 to 12, but hospitalizations rose from 271 to 282 and the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units increased from 33 to 40.

To date, Orange County has had 646,563 cases, of which 613,647 are considered recovered. The death toll is at 7,247.

Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that cases – over a 14-day period – are down by 16 percent. Hospitalizations are down by 1 percent and deaths up by 10 percent.

In California, Los Angeles Times reports that new cases are down by 25 percent and deaths up 3 percent over a similar period.