The number of COVID-positive patients in Riverside County hospitals dropped slightly to 311 Thursday, down from 330, according to the latest county figures.
Of those patients, 58 were in intensive care, down four from the previous day.
The latest numbers come as the Riverside University Health System reported 24 additional deaths connected to COVID-19, bringing the county’s virus-related death toll to 6,187 since the pandemic began.
Fatalities are considered trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates, meaning some deaths may have actually occurred weeks ago, according to health officials.
The RUHS also reported 1,171 new positive COVID tests Thursday. The aggregate number of COVID-19 cases recorded in the county since the pandemic began in March 2020 is 589,545.
The number of known active virus cases in the county was 67,543 Thursday. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 589,545. Verified patient recoveries countywide are 515,815.