Riverside County COVID-19 Update

Murrieta CA

06 August, 2021

8:45 PM

Description

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — No additional coronavirus deaths were reported in Riverside County Friday, continuing a four-day trend, though an uptick in hospitalizations was reported along with 1,226 newly confirmed virus cases. The number of COVID-19 fatalities stood at 4,667 on Friday, the same number reported Tuesday, according to the Riverside University Heath System. In comparison, 4,662 casualties were reported as of one week ago, and 4,658 as of two weeks ago. The total number of infections recorded in Riverside County since the pandemic began in March 2020 now stands at 313,931, according to RUHS. The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 totaled 384, up 23 from the day before. That figure includes 85 intensive care unit patients, up five from Thursday. Riverside County is continuing to experience the highest number of COVID-positive hospitalizations since February, although the total is well below the level seen during the winter surge, when more than 1,600 people where hospitalized with the virus. The recent increase in new cases mirrors a nationwide surge, with federal health officials blaming the highly infectious Delta strain of the virus first detected in India. When asked about a possible culprit for the sudden increase in cases in Riverside County, Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung said last week that the jump was expected following the relaxation of state health measures on June 15. State health officials reiterated Monday that the Delta variant is preying on the unvaccinated population, which has an infection rate nearly seven times higher than that of vaccinated residents. According to RUHS, 58.4% of county residents 12 and older have received at least one coronavirus vaccine shot, and 50.4% have been fully vaccinated.