COVID-19 Death Toll Sets New Record In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County Thursday logged 92 additional COVID-19 deaths, the largest one-day reported total since the pandemic began.

The newly reported fatalities, which bring the coronavirus death toll to 2,399, all occurred within the last three weeks, according to county Executive Office spokeswoman Brooke Federico.

The previous record was set on Dec. 29, when 73 deaths were reported, a figure that also dated back several weeks due to continued delays processing death certificates.

Health officials also reported 2,880 newly confirmed infections on Thursday. The total number of coronavirus cases recorded countywide since the public health documentation period began in early March is now 233,480, up from 230,600 on Wednesday, according to the Riverside University Health System. More than half of the total cases are reported as recovered from the virus.

The RUHS reported 1,584 hospitalizations, down 76 from Wednesday. That figure includes 367 patients in intensive care unit beds, up four from Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Emergency Management Director Bruce Barton told the Riverside County Board of Supervisors that about half of patients in hospitals countywide have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Barton said six facilities are at 100 percent of licensed bed capacity. However, all hospitals are resorting to surge plans to expand critical care space wherever possible. No patients are being transferred to facilities outside the county because of space limitations.

Meanwhile, people aged 65 and older began getting vaccinated against COVID-19 on Thursday in Riverside County, a day after the state lowered the age requirement in tier 1 of Phase 1B from 75 years old to 65.

Several free vaccine clinics are scheduled over the next week countywide, including three that opened on Thursday, with others slated for the coming days. Additional information can be found here.