Fewer virus-related deaths in latest count, hospitalizations down

RIVERSIDE – Coronarvirus infections in Riverside County increased by roughly 2,500, with 38 virus-related deaths reported Friday, while COVID-19 hospitalizations countywide fell.

The aggregate number of coronavirus cases recorded since the public health documentation period began in early March is 258,352, compared to 255,808 on Thursday, according to the Riverside University Health System.

RUHS said a total of 2,777 deaths stemming from virus-related complications have been recorded, compared to 2,739 Thursday. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and cover three- to four-week periods, sometimes longer.

COVID-positive hospitalizations countywide are at 1,497, a drop of 32 from Thursday. That includes 335 intensive care unit patients, unchanged from a day ago. The county's COVID patient count generally has been trending down since Jan. 12.

The number of known active virus cases countywide is 78,752, up 1,116.

The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total - 258,352 - according to the county Executive Office.

Verified patient recoveries countywide are at 177,003.

On Thursday, the county's SARS-Cov-2 vaccination reservation portal crashed because of heavy traffic that filled all available slots for weekend immunization clinics countywide. Interim county CEO Juan Perez apologized for the disruption, and the Executive Office replaced the website.

The new appointment portal can be accessed via http://www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine.

Guidelines on how to book appointments are available on the site.

Clinics are planned Monday to Friday, with some slots reserved specifically for residents in tier 1 of Phase 1B - those who are 65 years and older - under the California Department of Public Health's revised vaccination guidance.

The county's overall COVID-19 positive rate is 23.8%, down from 25.8% last week, based on state-adjusted figures.

The 11-county Southern California region's ICU availability officially remains at 0%.

The regional ICU bed metric is a key benchmark under Gov. Gavin Newsom's regional stay-at-home order, which went into effect on Dec. 6. The order was triggered when ICU bed availability across Southern California fell below 15%.

The mandate is expected to remain in effect until bed availabilities recover.

The current stay-at-home order impacts bars, theaters, museums, hair salons, indoor recreational facilities, amusement parks and wineries - all of which are supposed to remain closed.

Restaurants are confined to takeout and delivery, with capacity limitations on retail outlets.