CORONAVIRUS numbers in Orange County in this week’s report showed an decrease in new cases (Shutterstock).

The coronavirus epidemic is not showing much evidence it is leaving Orange County.

Although the latest statistics released today (Thursday) show some declines, the level of infection is still considered “high” by the Orange County Health Care Agency.

Over the past 14 days, Orange County’s rate of new cases is higher than the national and state averages, according to The New York Times.

For the period of Dec. 22-28, the OCHCA reports that the number of confirmed new cases is at 3,269. That compares to 3,446 on Dec. 15 and 4,449 on Dec. 8.

However, the number of weekly new cases had fallen all the way to 1,062 on Nov. 8.

Deaths are up to 24 for the past week, from 14 on Dec. 15 and 17 on Dec. 8.  Hospitalizations are at 329, down from 377 on Dec. 15 and 388 on Dec. 8

The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units is at 47, down from 49 on Dec. 15 and 48 on Dec. 8.

To date, Orange County has had 697,429 confirmed cases and 7,674 deaths.