Riverside County COVID-19 Report

RIVERSIDE, CA — Since the pandemic began last March, Riverside County has reported 271,910 COVID-19 cases, and 3,091 deaths, according to the Riverside University Health System.

The agency does not provide updated statistics on the weekend.

On Friday, health officials reported 1,805 newly confirmed coronavirus cases and 33 additional virus-related deaths, while the number of hospitalizations continued to decline.

The number of coronavirus hospitalizations countywide was at 1,128 Friday, down 63 from Thursday. That includes 290 patients being treated in intensive-care unit beds, down 27 from Thursday.

The county's peak in coronavirus hospitalizations was on Jan. 10, when 1,675 people suffering virus-related complications were undergoing treatment.

The number of known active virus cases countywide stands at 71,761 Friday, down 6,591 from Thursday. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total -- 271,910 -- according to the county Executive Office. Verified patient recoveries countywide were at 203,649, according to RUHS.

Meanwhile, Riverside County officials announced Friday that nearly 77% of all COVID-19 vaccine doses it has received-- 149,079 out of 193,875 -- have been administered countywide.

Riverside County's vaccination rate is higher than the state average of around 50%, according to the county.

Those who are 65 years and older, along with hospital workers, first responders and teachers, are in the current qualifying tiers under the California Department of Public Health's vaccination guidance.

According to health officials, about 800,000 county residents are eligible to receive shots based on current criteria.

The county's available ICU space remains at 0%, along with the 11- county Southern California region.

Gov. Gavin Newsom this week lifted his Dec. 6 stay-at-home order, which was based on areas sliding below a threshold of 15% available ICU space. He justified cancellation of the order Monday by citing projections from the CDPH showing ICU availability recovering in the next month.

County Emergency Management Director Bruce Barton told the board that conditions are generally improving in county hospitals, with patients taking up about 83% of licensed available beds, compared to just over 90% during the holidays.

Yet the county remains in the most-restrictive, purple, tier of the governor's Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework.

The county's overall COVID-19 positive rate is 20%, down from 23.5% last week, based on state-adjusted figures.

The purple tier impacts bars, theaters, museums, indoor recreational facilities, amusement parks and wineries -- all of which are supposed to remain closed. However, wineries, like restaurants, can provide outdoor dining, takeout and delivery.

Retail outlets are limited to 25% capacity, while hair salons, nail salons and barbershops can operate with safeguards in place.

—City News Service