The number of COVID-positive patients in Riverside County hospitals decreased by six, to 81, while five additional virus-related deaths were also reported, according to the latest county figures.
Of those patients, 15 were in intensive care, down three from Tuesday, according to the Riverside University Health System. The five additional deaths brought the county’s cumulative pandemic death toll to 6,436.
The RUHS on Wednesday also reported 134 new positive COVID tests, bringing the aggregate number of cases recorded in the county to 596,339.
The number of known active virus cases in the county was 2,786 Wednesday. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 596,339. Verified patient recoveries countywide are 587,117.
Fatalities are considered trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates, meaning some deaths may have actually occurred weeks ago, according to health officials.