Coronavirus Deaths Jump For Second Straight Day: Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — For the second straight day, Riverside County health officials reported an uptick in the number of deaths linked to coronavirus.

On Thursday, 20 deaths were reported on top of the 28 fatalities Wednesday. The countywide total death toll now stands at 637.

An additional 831 new coronavirus infections were confirmed Thursday, bringing the total to 32,813 since reporting began in March. Out of the total, 11,514 people have recovered from the virus, according to Riverside University Health System data.

According to RUHS, 534 people are hospitalized for COVID-19, six more than Wednesday. Hospitalizations include 155 patients in intensive care units, which is up by 12 patients since Wednesday.

California now has the most COVID-19 cases in the nation after passing New York Wednesday, though New York has recorded more fatalities.

Coronavirus screenings now stand at 341,567 across Riverside County. Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors last week that the average positivity rate among those tested for the virus countywide is trending at 20 percent, two and a half times the preferred state threshold of 8 percent.

The doubling time — or the number of days in which documented virus cases increase 100 percent — is 26 days. A doubling rate of seven days is considered severe.

Most of the county's fatalities stemming from complications tied to COVID-19 have been people between the ages of 65 and 84, according to RUHS. The agency said most of the county's infections are in the 25 to 44 age group.

Friday morning, county officials will join representatives from several nonprofits to announce the distribution of 10 million masks countywide as part of a local virus containment strategy. There will also be an update on the work of the Riverside County Economic Recovery Task Force, which was formed by the Board of Supervisors to identify ways of aiding the private sector amid the ongoing public health regulations that have forced many businesses to shut down.

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