Inland Empire has more deaths than 30 states
8,878 have died of COVID-19 in Riverside, San Bernardino counties
The coronavirus pandemic’s Inland Empire death toll is higher than the number of COVID-19 dead in most states.
Eight more people in Riverside County were reported dead of COVID-19 on Thursday, according to public health officials. A total of 4,555 county residents have died in the pandemic as of Thursday. Eighty-two county residents are hospitalized with the virus in the county, along with another 26 who are suspected of having it.
In San Bernardino County, health officials reported two more deaths Thursday. Also, 93 people were hospitalized as of Wednesday, along with 23 others who are suspected of having the disease.
That brings the total deaths from COVID-19 in Riverside and San Bernardino counties to 8,878 — more than all the deaths from the disease in 30 states and the District of Columbia.
The counties also have much larger populations than most states. If it were its own state, Riverside County, which had 2.4 million residents in 2019, would be the 37th largest by population,
edging out New Mexico.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County public health officials urged residents to continue getting vaccinated, even as infection and death rates have dropped.
“Although transmission has been slowed in Los Angeles County, people are still dying every day from COVID-19,” Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Thursday.
Here are the latest numbers as of Thursday, according to county and state public health officials.
Riverside County
Confirmed cases: 297,770 total, up 139 from Wednesday, averaging 99 reported per day in the past week
Deaths: 4,555 total, up eight from Wednesday, averaging five reported per day in the past week
Hospital survey: 82 confirmed and 26 suspected patients hospitalized Wednesday, including 19 confirmed and four suspected patients in ICUs, with 20 of 21 facilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is down 15% from a week earlier.
Tests: 2,881,456 total, up 8,155 from Wednesday, averaging 7,092 reported per day in the past week
Recovered cases: 291,314 total, up 107 from Wednesday, averaging 137 per day in the past week
Vaccinations: The county says 1,477,665 doses have been administered as of Wednesday. The number of fully and partially vaccinated residents was not updated by early Thursday evening.
Reopening plan tier:
Orange (moderate risk level; some indoor business operations are open with modifications) based on these metrics as of Tuesday:
• New cases per day per 100,000 residents: 4.5
• Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 4.5
• Test positivity rate:
2.3% (2.9% in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods)
• What’s next: To advance to the yellow tier, where more businesses can open or expand capacity, the county would need an adjusted case rate below 2 and a positivity rate below 2% for the whole county and 2.2% in disadvantaged neighborhoods for two consecutive weeks, and to have been in the orange tier for three weeks. Riverside County moved to the orange tier April 6. If metrics get worse, the county could move back into the more restrictive red tier.
San Bernardino County
Confirmed cases: 295,315 total, up 184 from Wednesday, averaging 150 reported per day in the past week
Deaths: 4,323 total, up two from Wednesday, averaging seven reported per day in the past week
Hospital survey: 93 confirmed and 23 suspected patients hospitalized Wednesday, including 20 confirmed and no suspected patients in ICUs, with 24 of 25 facilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is unchanged from a week earlier.
Tests: 2,871,209 total, up 9,530 from Wednesday, averaging 7,504 reported per day in the past week
Resolved cases (estimate): 289,829 total, up 111 from Wednesday, averaging 151 per day in the past week
Vaccinations: San Bernardino County residents have received 1,035,428 doses, with 257,191 people partially vaccinated and another 406,367 fully vaccinated, as of Tuesday.
Reopening plan tier:
Orange (moderate risk level; some indoor business operations are open with modifications) based on these metrics as of Tuesday:
• New cases per day per 100,000 residents: 4
• Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 4
• Test positivity rate: 2.1% (2.1% in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods)
• What’s next: To advance to the yellow tier, where more businesses can open or expand capacity, the county would need an adjusted case rate below 2 and a positivity rate below 2% for the whole county and 2.2% in disadvantaged neighborhoods for two consecutive weeks, and to have been in the orange tier for three weeks. San Bernardino County moved to the orange tier April 6. If metrics get worse, the county could move back into the more restrictive red tier.
Los Angeles County
Confirmed cases: 1,230,398 total, up 381 from Wednesday, averaging 409 reported per day in the past week
Deaths: 23,736 total, up 34 from Wednesday, averaging 23 reported per day in the past week
Hospital survey: 451 confirmed and 96 suspected patients hospitalized Wednesday, including 109 confirmed and 11 suspected patients in ICUs, with 89 of 92 facilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is down 12% from a week earlier.
People tested: About 6,380,000 total, up about 20,000 from Wednesday, averaging 18,000 reported per day in the past week
Vaccinations: The county says 6,488,391 doses have been administered, including 2,312,031 second doses, as of Sunday.
Reopening plan tier:
Orange (moderate risk level; some indoor business operations are open with modifications) based on these metrics as of Tuesday:
• New cases per day per 100,000 residents: 4
• Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 2.7
• Test positivity rate:
1.2% (1.4% in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods)
• What’s next: To advance to the yellow tier, where more businesses can open or expand capacity, the county would need an adjusted case rate below 2 and a positivity rate below 2% for the whole county and 2.2% in disadvantaged neighborhoods for two consecutive weeks, and to have been in the orange tier for three weeks. L.A. County moved to the orange tier March 30. If metrics get worse, the county could move back into the more restrictive red tier.
This includes the latest numbers from L.A. County’s Department of Public Health as well as Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own health departments and are typically a day ahead of the county in reporting their cities’ cases and deaths.