COVID-19 Hospitalizations Fall As Death Toll Mounts In RivCo

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped this week in Riverside County by 98 patients, while the death toll from the virus climbed by 67, county data showed.

Figures released Friday by Riverside University Health System showed the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations countywide was 575, with 135 of those patients in intensive care units. One week ago, 673 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized countywide, with 148 of those patients in ICU.

Conversely, the death toll climbed to 4,826 Friday. The sharper increase was expected due to the countywide uptick in hospitalizations and ICU admissions since the end of June. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates, according to health officials.

The total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Riverside County since the pandemic began in March 2020 stood at 343,556 Friday, an increase of 4,756 infections over the last seven days.

As of Friday, 55.1 percent of county residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated, according to RUHS data. The figure trails the state. California's COVID-19 online portal reports 67.8 percent of eligible Golden State residents are fully vaccinated.