Inside: Coronavirus hospitalizations in Inland Empire reach their lowest point in months.
In a sign the coronavirus is loosening its grip on the Inland Empire, the number of people being treated for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, continues to decline across the region.
In San Bernardino County, the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients in its hospitals has fallen to 144, the lowest level since May, state data shows.
The number of patients being cared for in Riverside County hospitals stood at 141 Wednesday, the lowest level since mid-October. Hospital totals are reported a day after counts are taken.
In both places, hospitalizations are far below the height of the holiday-season surge in early January, when San Bernardino County hospitals peaked at 1,785 patients and Riverside County facilities topped out at 1,671 patients, data shows.
As well, hospitalizations have dipped below the lowest total San Bernardino County reached in autumn, when 148 people were being treated Sept. 25. Fewer people are in the hospital there with confirmed COVID-19 cases than at any time since May 31.
In Riverside County, the fewest number of people are in the hospital with confirmed cases since Oct. 16, when 136 people were being cared for.
In Los Angeles County, Thursday brought a sobering reminder that the virus remains a threat — its coronavirus-related death toll topped 23,000.
Here are the numbers as of Thursday, according to state and county public health officials.
Riverside County
Confirmed cases: 293,707 total, up 107from Wednesday, averaging 127reported per day in the past week
Deaths: 4,214total, up 24 from Wednesday, averaging 16.7reported per day in the past week
Hospital survey: 141 confirmed and 31suspected patients hospitalized Wednesday, including 40confirmed and four suspected patients in ICUs, with 19of 21facilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is down 24.6% from a week earlier.
Tests: 2,672,357total, up 8,391from Wednesday, averaging 7,277reported per day in the past week
Recovered cases: 286,274 total, up 174from Wednesday, averaging 185per day in the past week
Vaccinations: The county says 864,250doses have been administered to Riverside County residents, with 281,765people fully vaccinated, as of Tuesday.
Reopening plan tier: Red (substantial risk level; some
nonessential indoor business operations are closed) based on these metrics as of Tuesday:
• New cases per day per 100,000residents: 4.8
• Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 4.8
• Test positivity rate: 2.7% (2.9% in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods)
• What’s next: To advance to the orange tier and reopen more businesses, Riverside County would need an adjusted case rate below 4and a positivity rate below 5% for the whole county and 5.3% in disadvantaged neighborhoods for two consecutive weeks, and to have been in the red tier for three weeks. If metrics get worse, it could move back into the more restrictive purple tier.
San Bernardino County
Confirmed cases: 290,155 total, up 125from Wednesday, averaging 130reported per day in the past week
Deaths: 3,803total, up 45 from Wednesday, averaging 26.3reported per day in the past week
Hospital survey: 144confirmed and 17suspected patients hospitalized Wednesday, including 32confirmed and two suspected patients in ICUs, with 25of 25facilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is down 20.9% from a week earlier.
Tests: 2,660,404total, up 7,515from Wednesday,
averaging 7,241reported per day in the past week
Resolved cases (estimate):
285,049 total, up 56 from Wednesday, averaging 114per day in the past week
Vaccinations: San Bernardino County residents have received 575,363 vaccine doses, with 206,566 people fully vaccinated, as of Saturday
Reopening plan tier: Red (substantial risk level; some nonessential indoor business operations are closed) based on these metrics as of Tuesday:
• New cases per day per 100,000residents: 4
• Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 4
• Test positivity rate: 2.3% (2.6% in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods)
• What’s next: To advance to the orange tier and reopen more businesses, San Bernardino County would need an adjusted case rate below 4 and a positivity rate below 5% for the whole county and 5.3% in disadvantaged neighborhoods for two consecutive weeks, and to have been in the red tier for three weeks. If metrics get worse, it could move back into the more restrictive purple tier.
Confirmed cases: 1,216,319 total, up 547from Wednesday, averaging 524reported per day in the past week
Deaths: 23,022total, up 57 from Wednesday, averaging 51reported per day in the past week
Hospital survey: 692 confirmed and 104suspected patients hospitalized Wednesday, including 183 confirmed and 22suspected patients in ICUs, with 90of 92facilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is down 19.6% from a week earlier.
People tested: About 6,041,000total, up about 9,000from Wednesday, averaging 8,000reported per day in the past week
Vaccinations: The county says 3.23million doses, including 1,057,794second doses, have been administered as of Wednesday.
Reopening plan tier: Red (substantial risk level; some nonessential indoor business operations are closed) based on these metrics as of Tuesday:
• New cases per day per 100,000residents: 4.8
• Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 3.7
• Test positivity rate: 1.8% (2.5% in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods)
• What’s next: To advance to the orange tier and reopen more businesses, L.A. County would need an adjusted case rate below 4 and a positivity rate below 5% for the whole county and 5.3% in disadvantaged neighborhoods for two consecutive weeks, and to have been in the red tier for three weeks. If metrics get worse, it could move back into the more restrictive purple tier.