The number of COVID-positive patients in Riverside County hospitals increased by one person to 55 Thursday, according to the latest county figures.
Of those patients, 10 were in intensive care, the same as Wednesday.
Also Thursday, the Riverside University Health System reported 157 new positive COVID tests and seven additional virus-related deaths, bringing the county’s cumulative totals to 597,511 cases and 6,468 fatalities since the pandemic began.
Fatalities are considered trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates, meaning some deaths may have actually occurred weeks ago. Health officials have said that the vast majority of people who die of COVID complications have underlying conditions, mainly hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.
The number of known active virus cases in the county was 2,552 as of Thursday. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 597,511. Verified patient recoveries countywide are 588,491.