COVID-19 Update For Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — As forecast, the death toll from the uptick in new coronavirus cases continues to climb in Riverside County.

On Tuesday, a total of 4,731 deaths from virus-related complications have been recorded in Riverside County over the last 18 months — 24 of the fatalities were reported over the last week, according to Riverside University Health System data. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can go back weeks, according to health officials.

The ongoing increase in new COVID-19 infections began shortly after the statewide reopening on June 15 and health officials warned the county would likely experience an uptick in virus-related deaths in unvaccinated individuals as a result.

Information on COVID-19 fatalities involving fully vaccinated individuals in Riverside County has not been made available. However, more than 90 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations are unvaccinated individuals, according to RUHS data.

"Unvaccinated individuals are 120 times more likely to die from COVID than those who are fully vaccinated," Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors last week.

The number of people hospitalized with coronavirus in Riverside County also notched higher over the last seven days.

According to RUHS, the number of COVID hospitalizations countywide was 664 as of Tuesday, up by 39 patients over the last week. Of that 664 figure, 146 of those patients were being treated in intensive care units. One week ago, the number of COVID-19 patients in ICU was 132, according to RUHS.

Officials said the total number of COVID cases recorded since the pandemic began in March 2020 was 336,053 on Tuesday, an increase of 6,869 new cases over the last seven days.

The county on Friday reported the COVID-related death of a 4-year-old child with no underlying health problems. The child, whose identity was not disclosed, died during the first week of August and was the youngest COVID-19 victim to date, according to county officials.

As of Monday, 47,610 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Riverside County kids ages 0-17; three of them died, according to RUHS.

To date, 53.7 percent of county residents 12 and older are now fully vaccinated. One week ago, the figure was 52.6 percent.

County Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung told the Board of Supervisors last week that natural immunity can mitigate exposure risks, but he said the duration of viral resistance is probably half of what vaccination provides.

Leung said the county is already establishing plans for widespread availability of COVID booster shots.

Information on vaccination in Riverside County is available via https://www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus.