Slight COVID-19 Uptick Monitored In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — State figures released Tuesday showed a small increase in the number of new coronavirus cases popping up in Riverside County — but local health officials were not surprised.

"We do think that is to be expected," Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors, explaining that expanded reopening of businesses, schools and other sectors, along with the recent spring break and holidays, are likely factors behind the uptick.

Tuesday's state figures showed the coronavirus case rate was 4.5 infections per 100,000 Riverside County residents. It's a rolling seven-day average. One week ago, the rate was 3.6 infections per 100,000, and a week before that it was 3.5 per 100K.

The county's positivity rate also crept up to 2.3 percent, compared to 2 percent one week ago.

Saruwatari said county health officials are closely monitoring the increase.

The county remains in the orange tier of the state's COVID-19 public health regulatory system.

Meanwhile, Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung told the board there are plenty of appointments available for COVID-19 vaccination, despite a pause on the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A J&J update from federal health officials is expected Friday.

On April 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended halting use of the J&J vaccine after reports of a rare blood clot disorder in a small number of people. (Related: Nearly 20K Doses Of J&J Vaccine Administered In RivCo)

Countywide, 1,424,772 vaccine doses (Pfizer, Moderna and J&J) have been administered, according to Riverside University Health System. Fifty-five percent of county residents 65 and older and 24.9 percent of people 16 and older have been fully vaccinated, Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the board Tuesday.

According to figures from the Riverside University Health System, COVID-19 hospitalizations continue trending downward. Eighty-two COVID patients were hospitalized Tuesday, down three from Monday. The updated figure includes 14 intensive care unit patients, a decrease of one since Monday.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in the county was reported at 297,620 Tuesday, an increase of 301 cases since Monday. The figure spans more than a year of reporting. Of the total number, 291,022 people have recovered from the virus, according to RUHS.

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RUHS figures show a total of 4,547 COVID-19 deaths since March 2020 — an uptick of 19 since Monday.

Related: Some COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Being Relocated