Deaths Climb, Hospitalizations Drop: Riverside County Coronavirus

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The number of coronavirus-related deaths reported in Riverside County has increased by nearly 200 people since last Thursday, but hospitalizations have dropped by 168 patients.

The total number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the public health documentation period began in early March stands at 44,679 Thursday. The figure is up by 696 since Wednesday's reporting and 8,050 since last Thursday, according to Riverside University Health System data.

The county's COVID-19 death toll now stands at 879, up by 26 people since Wednesday and 191 since last Thursday, the RUHS data show. In terms of gender, men are dying at a greater rate; where race/ethnicity is concerned, Hispanic/Latinx deaths outnumber any other; and people 65 and older comprise most of the county's deaths.

The above RUHS data, which show county deaths by age, gender and race/ethnicity, was last updated Aug. 12.

The number of confirmed patient recoveries is 23,287. The county defines a recovery as someone who has not manifested symptoms for 14 days.

According to RUHS data, 307 people are hospitalized for COVID-19, which is 28 fewer than Wednesday. Hospitalizations include 94 patients in intensive care units. In comparison, officials reported last Thursday that 475 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, including 167 being treated in ICU beds.

Last week, Emergency Management Department Director Bruce Barton told the Board of Supervisors that the county had "seen a downward trend in hospitalizations" beginning the last week of July, with both general COVID- positive hospitalizations and ICU referrals trending lower.

According to Barton, the greatest number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations are in District 4, which encompasses the Coachella Valley. Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage has seen the heaviest demand for COVID-19 treatment, requiring a 19-person federal medical team to assist on- site staff, the EMD director said.

Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the board that District 4 also has had the highest proportion of coronavirus-related deaths. She said that nearly two-thirds — 63 percent — of all deaths coded as COVID- 19 were correlated to underlying conditions, principally chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease.

The doubling time — or the number of days in which documented virus cases increase 100 percent — is 35 days. A doubling rate of seven days is considered severe.

Several school districts began their fall semesters Monday and others will follow in the coming weeks countywide. All districts are set up for distance — or online — instruction for now. Once the county's COVID-19 infection rate recedes, many schools will be eligible to apply for waivers from the California Department of Public Health, enabling them to proceed with limited in-person class activities.

Last week, in-person sports activities were permitted to resume with physical distancing and safety protocols in place.

—City News Service contributed to this report.