By the numbers, it’s getting worse

Seven additional deaths bring county’s total to 74; total active cases approaching quadruple digits

OROVILLE » Butte County’s coronavirus death toll increased sharply on Wednesday as Butte County Public Health’s COVID-19 dashboard reported seven more county residents died after contracting the virus.

The number of Butte County residents to lose their lives due to the virus reached 74 with the latest update. The deaths occurred on Nov. 28, Dec. 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 13. On Dec. 5 alone, three people passed away from the virus, which had occurred only once prior in the last nine months of the pandemic, on Sept. 10.

Ages for each of the seven individuals weren’t immediately included on the county’s dashboard. Prior to Wednesday’s update, 60 of the county’s 67 deaths were

among people ages 65 and older, including 49 in the 75 and older demographic.

During the county’s second wave in the late summer months, Butte County Public Health explained that the amount of time between a death occurring and the date it is reported publicly can vary significantly, depending on when the health department receives and processes a death certificate that confirms the virus as the underlying cause.

So while Wednesday’s updated number of deaths reflects a three-week time period, the increase correlates with an unprecedented surge in the county-wide number of cases and hospitalizations.

There were 662 new cases reported between Dec. 12 and 14, a figure that was reported on Tuesday because Butte County Public Health said the new number of cases was “too large” to verify by Monday. Another 94 new cases were

recorded on Tuesday and added to the county dashboard on Wednesday. All combined, there are 844 active cases in the county, including 36 hospitalizations.

As of Tuesday, a total of 84 COVID-19 positive patients are hospitalized across the county, including 49 at Chico’s Enloe Medical Center, 29 at Oroville Hospital and six at Orchard Hospital in Gridley. According to state hospital data, that number is higher than at any other point in the pandemic. Hospitalizations increased by seven between Monday and Tuesday.

Fourteen patients are currently hospitalized in intensive care units. State data indicates 13 ICU beds are available.

Butte County Public Health will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday to provide updates on COVID-19 within the county. It can be streamed live on the department’s Facebook page at www. facebook.com/ buttecountypublichealth.