Coronavirus Cases Exceed 60,000 In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County health officials Monday reported 804 newly confirmed coronavirus infections and seven additional virus-related deaths since Friday, as the number of active cases and hospitalizations edged up slightly.

The total number of COVID-19 infections recorded since the public health documentation period began in early March now stands at 60,738, with 1,238 fatalities, according to the Riverside University Health System.

The seven deaths reported Monday occurred as far back as Aug. 10, according to RUHS spokesman Jose Arballo.

Riverside County coronavirus statistics are not released on weekends.

According to the Emergency Management Department, 133 people are hospitalized countywide with virus symptoms, an increase of three since Friday. That figure includes 40 intensive care unit patients, one more than Friday.

Despite the slight uptick, the county's COVID-19 hospitalization numbers remain at or below levels reported in April.

Officials had previously acknowledged a lag time of several days or more for lab test results to be returned, and because of complications with contract tracing, recoveries can sometimes go under-reported for extended periods.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will reconsider a proposal to replace the state's tiered reopening system with a county-designed plan that would flout restrictions and allow all businesses, houses of worship, offices, wineries, bars and other entities to reopen near the end of the month.

The county Executive Office has warned that the county could lose out on $114 million in grants and other allocations if it takes an independent path.

According to the California Department of Public Health, Riverside County is averaging 6.7 new coronavirus cases a day per 100,000 population of new coronavirus cases — too high to move into further reopening under the state's tiered plan.

Each Tuesday, the state updates the data.