Orange County's ICU COVID Patient Totals Increase, JWA Testing

ORANGE COUNTY, CA —Admitted coronavirus patients at Orange County hospitals decreased by 13 to 164, while the intensive care patient total increased from 53 to 56, according to the latest state figures.

This report came two days after the county reported 356 new cases of COVID-19 and seven additional deaths associated with the virus, bringing its cumulative totals to 313,743 patients and 5,756 fatalities since the pandemic began March of 2020.

The county had 21.8 percent of its ICU beds and 69 percent of its ventilators available as of Friday, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.

Additional data will be reported Monday, as statistics are not reported over the weekend.

As of Friday, the county's case rate per 100,000 for the fully vaccinated was 2.6 at week's end, down from 2.9 on Nov. 20.

The case rate for the unvaccinated was at 12.7, down from 15.1, during the same period.

The number of fully vaccinated residents in Orange County increased from 2,229,621 as of Nov. 24 to 2,242,235 as of Thursday.

That number includes an increase from 2,080,656 to 2,093,447 residents who have received the two-dose regimen of vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna. The number of residents receiving the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine stands at 148,788.

Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, the county deputy health officer, said vaccinations have been picking up some velocity of late.

"As of Nov. 29, 513,000 either received a booster or an extra dose," Chinsio-Kwong said. "We did see a pickup of vaccination following the Thanksgiving holiday."

On Thursday, 23,000 doses were dispensed, "which is assuring," she said.
About 4,000 kids 5 to 11 years old received a dose on Thursday, she said. The doctor said that about 16% of those 5 to 11 years old have received at least one dose.

"So far, a good chunk of that is being done at pharmacies," she said. "I'm really happy to see we did see a rise in demand for vaccines following the Thanksgiving holiday."

Meanwhile, starting Wednesday, John Wayne Airport travelers will be able to get free COVID-19 test kits, officials announced. These are not rapid tests and are self-administered tests, the OCHA clarified, though rapid tests are available at the JWA terminal, through an ongoing partnership with Hoag Hospital.

Public health professionals encourage all travelers to get tested in the hopes it will catch more infected people who can quarantine and help curb the spread of the virus.

County Supervisor Andrew Do lauded the county's efforts to bring added resources to the heavily traveled airport.

According to Do, this is "another example of the important work we have been doing throughout these past two years to protect our community during COVID."