Orange County COVID-19 cases climb to 2,819, new infections and hospitalizations see slight decline

While the number of Orange County coronavirus cases climbed on Monday to 2,819, public health reports showed a decline in the number of new infections and patients being hospitalized due to complications from the virus.

The Orange County Health Care Agency announced Monday five additional deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, along with 89 confirmed new infections — a 45% decline from the 163 new cases recorded Friday.

Testing continued to climb, with 37,050 cumulative tests given Monday, a bit shy of the 2,000 daily tests county officials reportedly hoped to see when they unveiled the OC COVID-19 Testing Network in late April.

Hoag Orthopedic Institute, which on Friday resumed some elective surgeries primarily on an outpatient basis, said it said it would require coronavirus testing three days prior to surgery, then quarantine at home prior to arrival at the facility for their surgical procedure.

Among Orange County’s COVID-19 deaths, residents 75 and older continue to remain the most affected, accounting for 52% of the county’s 57 deaths, according to health agency data. Another nine deaths were recorded in patients aged 65 to 74. Among the decedents, 60% are male.

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-related hospitalizations fell slightly from Friday’s high-water mark of 202 patients, the Health Care Agency reported. Monday’s figures showed 169 people were being cared for countywide, with 25 area hospitals reporting. Of that number, 52 patients reportedly occupied ICU beds, down six from Friday.

Here are the latest case counts for select cities, with their numbers per 10,000 residents:

• Santa Ana: 405 (12 cases per 10,000 residents)
• Anaheim: 420 (11.7 cases per 10,000 residents)
• Huntington Beach: 230 (11.3 cases per 10,000 residents)
• Irvine: 137 (4.9 cases per 10,000 residents)
• Newport Beach: 101 (11.6 cases per 10,000 residents)
• Costa Mesa: 43 (3.7 cases per 10,000 residents)
• Laguna Beach: 37 (16.3 cases per 10,000 residents)
• Fountain Valley: 35 (6.2 cases per 10,000 residents)

Updated figures are posted daily at occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/coronavirus-in-oc.

For information on getting tested, visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/covid-19-testing-and-screening.

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