New COVID Cases Continue Rapid Climb In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside University Health System data show that daily new COVID-19 cases are now trending higher than the summer surge attributed to the Delta variant.

The total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in the county increased by 2,269 Wednesday, reaching a total of 397,228 since the pandemic began, according to the Riverside University Health System. On Tuesday, 1,995 new cases were reported.

While the virus is spreading at a rapid pace countywide, the increase is not as steep as a year ago. COVID hospitalizations are not as high as last winter either, but health officials are monitoring the situation. The number of COVID patients in Riverside County hospitals jumped by 44 to 431 Wednesday and the number of those patients in intensive care increased to 86, up by five from Tuesday.

COVID-19 testing sites continue to be available at pharmacies and medical facilities across Riverside County, but at-home rapid-result test kits are largely out of stock on retailers' shelves. The prevalence of at-home testing indicates the true number of new infections is likely much higher countywide because at-home test results are not tallied in the county figures.

With the 17 deaths recorded Wednesday, a total of 5,572 deaths from virus-related complications have been recorded in the county in the past 21 months. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays in processing death certificates and can go back weeks, according to health officials.

County health officials continue to urge full COVID-19 vaccination and a booster shot to fend off serious illness that can lead to hospitalization or death in some cases. To get more information or to schedule vaccination, click here.

Face masks are now required to be worn in all public indoor spaces across the county and state, regardless of vaccination status.

—City News Service, Patch Editor Toni McAllister contributed to this report.