The number of COVID-positive patients hospitalized in Riverside County has edged up again, but no additional virus-related deaths were reported.
According to data released Tuesday by the Riverside University Health System, the coronavirus hospital count was 515, up 20 from Monday, while the number of intensive care unit patients diagnosed with COVID increased to 104, up nine from a day ago.
RUHS said the aggregate number of COVID cases recorded since the public health documentation period began in March 2020 was 322,251. Monday’s number was 320,277.
A total of 4,686 deaths from coronavirus-related complications have been recorded in the last 17 months, unchanged from Monday. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can go back weeks, according to health officials.
According to RUHS, about 60% of all county residents have either been fully or partially vaccinated.
RUHS is in the process of 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.
There was no update on the effort Tuesday because the Board of Supervisors did not request a report from the Department of Public Health on COVID data during its meeting.
The number of known active virus cases countywide was 6,732, up 1,462 from a day earlier. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 322,251 — according to the county Executive Office. Verified patient recoveries countywide total 310,833.
The recent increase in COVID cases mirrors a nationwide surge, and health officials say the highly contagious Delta variant has helped fuel the escalation, as well as the relaxation of lockdown measures in June.
Information on vaccination is available via www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus.