Riverside County’s coronavirus patient count edged upward, and an additional six virus-related deaths were reported, according to the latest available numbers.
The Riverside University Health System on Wednesday reported the number of people hospitalized for COVID countywide was 645, up 20 from Tuesday, while the number of intensive care unit patients increased to 137, five more than a day earlier.
Officials said the aggregate number of COVID cases recorded since the pandemic began in March 2020 was 330,327, compared to 329,184 on Monday.
A total 4,713 deaths from virus-related complications have been recorded in the past 17 months. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can date back weeks, according to health officials.
The number of known active virus cases countywide was 7,759, down 510 from a day ago. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 330,327 — according to the county Executive Office. Verified patient recoveries countywide are 317,855.
Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that 17% of the county’s COVID infections in July were comprised of fully vaccinated people, while to date in August, 15.4% of COVID patients were fully vaccinated.
Saruwatari said hospitalization data has been consistent, with roughly 10% of fully vaccinated people receiving in-patient care for COVID at medical facilities countywide.
Altogether, the county had tabulated 3,361 cases of fully vaccinated people this year requiring post-vaccination treatment for the virus, according to Saruwatari. She added that 23 virus-related deaths have been documented among the vaccinated.
Supervisor Jeff Hewitt said the new infection data underscored the growing conundrum of “breakthrough cases” in which fully vaccinated individuals are facing COVID exposure risks as if they had never received the shots.
“As time goes by, this virus is mutating into different variants,” Hewitt said, pointing to the Delta variant as an example.
The supervisor questioned the rush by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to license Pfizer’s SARS-CoV-2 shot, announced Monday, after only six months of clinical trials under the emergency use authorization granted last fall.
“The FDA has a history of approving drugs, and then three, four or five years later, they’re recalled (over safety issues),” he said.
Hewitt wondered about the justification of promoting the vaccine for those who have already endured a bout of coronavirus, noting those who have been exposed have “built up some natural immunity.”
County Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung acknowledged natural immunity can mitigate exposure risks, but said the duration of viral resistance is probably half of what the shots provide.
The doctor said the county is already establishing plans for widespread availability of COVID booster shots.
Last week, federal health officials recommended that all vaccinated Americans get a booster eight months after they become fully vaccinated. That amounts to a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine — and “likely” an additional dose for people who received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot. The booster shots could begin the week of Sept. 20.
Information on vaccination is available via www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus.