Orange County reports 19 COVID-19 deaths and 408 new coronavirus infections

The Orange County Health Care Agency announced 19 deaths and 408 new infections on Saturday in its latest report tracking the coronavirus pandemic.

The fatalities included five residents of skilled nursing facilities and two of assisted living facilities.

In the county, there have been 975 deaths due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. The cumulative case count stands at 48,190.

Hospitalizations due to the virus were at 341 on Saturday, with 99 of those patients in intensive care.

There were 812 tests performed within the last day, bringing the total number of tests countywide to 624,816. An estimated 40,721 residents in the county have recovered from the virus.

The healthcare agency also said that 32% of intensive care unit beds and 63% of ventilators are currently available.

Orange County was taken off the state watch list for COVID-19 on Aug. 23.

In new guidelines released by the state on Friday, Orange County was classified in the first tier, with “widespread” transmission of the virus. That means many nonessential indoor businesses are to remain closed for now.

There are four tiers — widespread, substantial, moderate and minimal. If a county in the first tier has met the requirements for a less restrictive tier the week before, that county only has to meet the criteria for the next less restrictive tier for one more week to progress to the next tier. Counties can only move up one tier at a time.

State data show Orange County with 6 new infections per 100,000 residents per day and a testing positivity rate of 5.2%. Orange County’s numbers meet the requirements for the second tier, “substantial transmission,” for counties who are between four to seven cases per 100,000 residents and carry a testing positivity rate of 5% to 8%.

Here are the latest cumulative coronavirus case counts and COVID-19 deaths for select cities in Orange County:

• Santa Ana: 9,328 cases; 236 deaths
• Anaheim: 8,262 cases; 220 deaths
• Huntington Beach: 2,211 cases; 62 deaths
• Costa Mesa: 1,660 cases; 21 deaths
• Irvine: 1,460 cases; 12 deaths
• Newport Beach: 1,051 cases; 19 deaths
• Fountain Valley: 473 cases; nine deaths
• Laguna Beach: 176 cases; fewer than five deaths

Here are the case counts by age group, followed by deaths:

• 0 to 17: 3,263 cases; one death
• 18 to 24: 7,166 cases; three deaths
• 25 to 34: 10,568 cases; 13 deaths
• 35 to 44: 7,779 cases; 29 deaths
• 45 to 54: 7,795 cases; 84 deaths
• 55 to 64: 5,806 cases; 136 deaths
• 65 to 74: 2,867 cases; 195 deaths
• 75 to 84: 1,638 cases; 212 deaths
• 85 and older: 1,277 cases; 302 deaths

Updated figures are posted daily at occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/coronavirus-in-oc. For information on getting tested, visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/covid-19-testing.

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