NEW CORONAVIRUS cases passed the 1,000 mark this week (Shutterstock).

The number of new coronavirus cases in Orange County rose for the fourth consecutive week, topping 1,000 for the first time in months.

According to the county health care agency, the total of new cases for the week ending Wednesday, Aug. 16 was 1,007. That’s up from 796 last week and 708 the week before. It’s nearly double the July 19 tally of 522.

Deaths, however, dropped to four from last week’s total of 10.

To date, Orange County has had 730,341 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 8,265 deaths.