Riverside County’s latest coronavirus data show that the number of COVID-positive patients under intensive care crept up, while overall hospitalizations dropped slightly, with five additional virus-related deaths reported.
The Riverside University Health System said Thursday that the number of ICU patients increased to 89, compared to 85 Wednesday, while total hospitalizations fell to 483, a decline of six from a day ago.
RUHS on Thursday also reported 867 newly confirmed cases, bringing the aggregate number of COVID-19 infections recorded since the public health documentation period began in March 2020 to 318,681.
Officials said a total 4,679 deaths from virus-related complications have been recorded in the last 17 months. The figure was up five from Wednesday.
The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can go back a month, according to health officials.
Meanwhile, RUHS is attempting to collect statistics tied to the number of hospitalizations involving residents who have been partially or fully vaccinated, according to agency spokesman Jose Arballo.
The latest upswing in infections has included vaccinated patients in locations worldwide, according to published reports, and the county is seeking to get an accurate representation of local figures.
“I am working with administration to get some system for tracking,” Arballo told City News Service. “The hospitals may provide that to the state, and we are trying to get a system in place to retrieve that data.”
The number of known active virus cases countywide was 7,613, down 420 from a day earlier. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 318,681 — according to the county Executive Office. Verified patient recoveries countywide are 306,389.
The recent increase in COVID cases mirrors a nationwide surge, and officials have theorized the Delta variant has helped fuel the escalation, as well as the relaxation of lockdown measures in June.
According to RUHS, about 52% of all county residents have either been fully or partially vaccinated. Information on vaccination is available at rivcoph.org/coronavirus.