RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Riverside County health officials announced another 1,377 confirmed coronavirus cases Thursday, while the number of deaths attributed to virus-related complications went up by 18.
According to the Riverside University Health System, the total number of COVID-19 infections documented countywide since data collection began in early March is 23,334. The aggregate sum on Wednesday was 21,957.
The number of people whose deaths have been attributed to complications stemming from the virus stands at 533, compared to 515 a day ago, according to RUHS.
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The number of known active coronavirus cases in the county rose to 13,555, up 1,185 from Wednesday. According to the county Executive Office, the active case count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current cumulative total -- 23,334.
Data show estimated recoveries are at 9,246. The county defines a recovery as someone who has not exhibited any COVID-19 symptoms for at least 14 days.
There were 513 patients hospitalized in medical facilities countywide for COVID-19 as of Thursday, including 117 patients in intensive care units, 13 less than Wednesday.
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Emergency Management Department Director Bruce Barton told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday that of the county's 17 hospitals, six are operating at maximum capacity. But they are "not overwhelmed" because all of the medical facilities are able to add spare cushion on short notice, exceeding licensed capacities by 30% if necessary, as happened during the 2017 flu outbreak, he said.
So-called "sub-acute" bed space countywide is at 68% capacity, while 94% of designated ICU beds are occupied, but fewer than a third of those are COVID-19 patients, according to Barton.
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He said 10 prisoners from state penitentiaries are in hospitals within the county, along with four patients from hard-hit Imperial County. Imperial County's two functioning hospitals have been operating over capacity for the last two months, and an unspecified number of patients have been transferred to multiple jurisdictions statewide for care.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has implemented a ban on indoor operations at restaurants, wineries, family entertainment centers, cardrooms, theaters and museums in what he termed a precautionary move to address the "particularly concerning" spike in infections in 23 counties on the state's "watch list," including Riverside County.
The new state mandate barring indoor activities at those venues is slated to last another two weeks at least.
Bars countywide were also ordered closed last week under a new public health order. They had been allowed to reopen on June 12, after having previously been shut down as part of the governor's stay-at-home order issued March 19.