Coronavirus cases in Riverside County increased by 870 over the weekend, with three additional deaths also reported Monday, along with an uptick in hospitalizations.
The aggregate number of COVID-19 infections recorded since the public health documentation period began in early March is 68,920, compared to 68,050 on Friday, according to the Riverside University Health System.
The agency reported 179 COVID-positive hospitalizations, up 29 since the end of last week, and that includes 43 intensive care unit patients, 10 more than Friday. COVID-19 hospitalizations are currently at or below levels reported in April.
Officials said the number of deaths tied to COVID-19 stands at 1,322, up from 1,319 on Friday.
The number of known active cases countywide totals 6,177, an increase of 174 in three days. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 68,920 — according to the county Executive Office. The number of verified patient recoveries is 61,421.
The county’s coronavirus positivity rate has climbed to 5.6% amid a significant increase in the volume of people being tested countywide. Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors last Tuesday that the testing rate had reached 221.6 per 100,000, compared to 195.5 per 100,000 the prior week. The state’s threshold for large counties is 239.1 per 100,000.
The state-adjusted 5.6% positivity rate compares to an overall rate of 5.2% two weeks ago. Additionally, the daily COVID-19 case rate is now 10.1 per 100,000 under the California Department of Public’s Health criteria. The previous rate calculated by the state was 9.1 per 100,000.
Except for the positivity rate, the other figures make the county ineligible for movement back into the “red” tier under the CDPH’s parameters.
Based partly on the low screening counts, the agency two weeks ago reclassified the county in the “purple” tier, the most restrictive under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s color-coded coronavirus regulatory framework, meaning some businesses that had reopened in recent weeks were required to close again. The designation impacts gyms, restaurants, movie theaters and places of worship.