The number of COVID-positive patients hospitalized in Riverside County continued a slow decrease Friday, while 12 new virus-related deaths were reported.
According to the Riverside University Health System, COVID-related hospitalizations countywide dropped to 278 Friday, compared to 282 on Thursday. The number of those patients in intensive care was 70, down from 74 on Thursday.
The aggregate number of COVID cases recorded since the public health documentation period began in March 2020 stood at 359,577. Thursday’s number was 359,283.
Officials said on Friday a total 5,092 deaths from virus-related complications have been recorded in the last roughly 19 months. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can go back a month, sometimes longer.
The number of known active virus cases countywide Friday was 3,692, down 259 from Thursday. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 359,577 — according to the county Executive Office.
Verified patient recoveries countywide were 350,793.