Single-Day Coronavirus Cases, Deaths Up In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA —Riverside County health officials Friday reported 498 newly diagnosed coronavirus cases and 13 additional virus-related deaths, marking the largest one-day increase in reported fatalities and new cases since summer.

The total number of COVID-19 infections recorded since the public health documentation period began in early March is 68,050, compared to 67,552 on Thursday, according to the Riverside University Health System. The number of verified patient recoveries is 60,728.

The county's COVID-19 death toll now stands at 1,319. Friday's 13 reported deaths occurred as far back as Sept. 24, according to RUHS spokesman Jose Arballo.

The last time daily reported fatalities surpassed a dozen was on Sept. 4, when 14 deaths were reported, county figures show. According to RUHS data, the last time new daily coronavirus cases neared the 500 mark was mid-August.

Coronavirus testing is being encouraged for all residents, and additional testing sites are being rolled out in some parts of the county.

There are now 150 patients infected with coronavirus being treated in county hospitals, one more than Thursday. This figure includes 33 intensive care unit patients, two fewer than the day before. COVID-19 hospitalizations are currently at or below levels reported in April.

The county's coronavirus positivity rate has climbed to 5.6 percent amid an increase in the volume of people being tested countywide. Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that the testing rate had reached 221.6 tests per 100,000 population, compared to 195.5 per 100,000 a week ago. The state's threshold for large counties is 239.1 tests per 100,000.

Additionally, the daily COVID-19 case rate in Riverside County is now 10.1 infections per 100,000 population. The previous rate calculated by the state was 9.1 per 100,000.

Positivity, case and testing rates for counties are calculated by the state and released each week to the public. The next update is Tuesday.

Except for the positivity rate, which is still low, the other figures make the county ineligible for movement back into the "red" tier under California Department of Public Health's parameters.

Based partly on the low screening counts, on Oct. 20 the state agency reclassified the county in the "purple" tier, the most restrictive under the state's color-coded coronavirus regulatory framework, meaning some businesses that had reopened in recent weeks were required to close again or mover operations outdoors, though the compliance level was unknown. The designation impacts gyms, restaurants, movie theaters, places of worship, zoos and museums.