8 New Coronavirus Deaths In Orange County; 137 New Cases

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Orange County health officials Wednesday reported eight more COVID-19 fatalities and 137 new cases, along with a spike in hospitalizations.

The number of hospitalized patients increased from 240 to 279, and the number of patients in intensive care units climbed from 97 to 120, which local health officials said is reflective of a switch over to a state health department system that mandates reports of patient numbers from hospitals.

Previously, the county was using a system that was voluntary, so the numbers reflected most, but not all of the hospitals.

The death toll now stands at 158 and the cumulative coronavirus case total at 6,678.

Orange County's chief health officer told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that there has been an uptick in "community transmission" of the coronavirus since stay-at-home orders have been relaxed.

Dr. Nichole Quick also defended her order to require masks for residents wherever they cannot maintain 6 feet of social distancing. Quick -- who has been provided extra protection from law enforcement due to threats she's received over her stance on masks -- said wherever face covering orders were implemented, the rate of spread of the coronavirus went down.

"We are seeing an increase in community transmission," she said. "I also think our hospitalization rates have been trending up."

In Orange County, here are Thursday's coronavirus totals by city:

• Aliso Viejo: 31
• Anaheim: 1,160
• Brea: 45
• Buena Park: 178
• Costa Mesa: 132
• Coto de Caza : 7
• Cypress: 75
• Dana Point: 29 (unchanged)
• Fountain Valley: 64
• Fullerton: 219
• Garden Grove: 371
• Huntington Beach: 353
• Irvine: 206
• La Habra: 120
• La Palma: 22 (unchanged)
• Ladera Ranch: 14 (unchanged)
• Laguna Beach: 46 (unchanged)
• Laguna Hills: 34
• Laguna Niguel: 40
• Laguna Woods: 10
• Lake Forest: 68
• Los Alamitos: 81 (unchanged)
• Midway City: 17
• Mission Viejo: 75
• Newport Beach: 146
• Orange: 288
• Placentia: 129
• Rancho Mission Viejo: 8 (unchanged)
• Rancho Santa Margarita: 23 (unchanged)
• San Clemente: 68 (unchanged)
• San Juan Capistrano: 59
• Santa Ana: 1,306
• Seal Beach: 23 (unchanged)
• Stanton: 82
• Trabuco Canyon: 16 (unchanged)
• Tustin: 111
• Villa Park: 8 (unchanged)
• Westminster: 144
• Yorba Linda: 83
• Other: 385
• Unknown: 402

For the most recent data, visit: occovid19.ochealthinfo

The number of people tested for the virus in the county stands at 140,843, with 2,810 documented recoveries. The recovery rate is incomplete, however, as officials cannot trace every coronavirus case and its result.

County officials say 70 of the deaths were skilled nursing home facility residents.

As of Monday, 786 of nursing home residents have tested positive for coronavirus and 181 of the staffers have contracted the virus.

Santa Ana leads all Orange County cities with 1,306 cases, followed closely by Anaheim with 1,160.

In Orange County's jails, nearly 380 inmates have contracted COVID-19 and 365 have recovered. Thirteen inmates are sick and officials are awaiting the results of 39 tests.

Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know