As COVID-19 Hospitalizations Jump In RivCo, Vaccination Increases

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — More Riverside County residents are getting vaccinated against the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, Riverside County University Health System reported that 50 percent of people 12 are older in the county are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — an increase of nearly 20,000 residents since July 26 — but local health officials acknowledge there is still a high rate of vaccine hesitancy.

"There is a lot of misinformation out there. We encourage people to talk to their doctors about the vaccines," said Jose Arballo Jr., RUHS spokesperson.

Concern about vaccine hesitancy comes as the county continues to see a sharp increase in the number of patients now hospitalized with COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Riverside County University Health System reported 340 COVID-19 patients were being treated in local hospitals, 74 of them in intensive care units. One week ago, 222 virus-related hospitalizations were reported countywide, with 47 of those patients in ICU.

"We are about the same today as we were in July 2020," Arballo said.

All local hospitals are seeing increased patient loads, but none have yet to implement surge plans, and not all of the uptick is due to COVID-19, according to Arballo.

Riverside County reported 2,025 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections recorded in the county since the pandemic began in March 2020 to 311,242, according to RUHS data. No new deaths were reported Tuesday, leaving the number at 4,667.

Nationally, the highly transmissible Delta variant is being blamed for increased COVID-19 hospitalizations and new cases. Riverside County is tracking variants, but the reporting system has a lag time of up to a month, so it's unclear how many people locally are now sickened by the Delta mutation.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Delta variant is highly infectious. It results in similarly high viral loads in vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike, although vaccinated people do not experience severe illness, according to the federal agency.

"High viral loads suggest an increased risk of transmission and raised concern that, unlike with other variants, vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus," the CDC said in a released statement.

The finding led to the CDC’s updated recommendation that everyone — vaccinated or not — mask up in indoor public settings. California and Riverside County health officials have followed the CDC's lead in recommending face coverings for all.

"The masking recommendation was updated to ensure the vaccinated public would not unknowingly transmit virus to others, including their unvaccinated or immunocompromised loved ones," the CDC said in its statement.

Concern about children under 12 — who are currently ineligible for the vaccines — was also a consideration in the new masking guidelines.

Both Los Angeles and Orange counties are reporting an increase in COVID-19 pediatric hospitalizations attributed to the Delta variant.

Pediatric COVID-19 cases in L.A. County grew by five times in July, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children make up more than a fifth of new cases nationwide — up from less than 5 percent last summer.

According to RUHS data through July 28, 2021, there have been 41,458 Riverside County children 17 and under who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began last year. Two of them have died. Arballo did not have information about the current number of COVID-19 pediatric patients hospitalized in Riverside County.

For people 12 and older, health officials urge that vaccination will stave off hospitalization and death, and masks can help protect younger children who are ineligible for the shots.

"Vaccination prevents serious illness, hospitalization and death, even with the Delta variant," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters on July 27. Vaccinated patients are 20 times less likely to become hospitalized or die, she said.