RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Riverside County health officials have reported 373 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 additional deaths on Thursday, Nov. 19.
The aggregate number of infections recorded countywide since the public health documentation period began in early March is 78,009, compared to 77,636 on Tuesday, according to the Riverside University Health System.
Officials said the number of deaths thought tied to COVID-19 now stands at 1,396.
The number of hospitalizations related to the virus, including intensive care unit patients, remained changed as of Tuesday at 362, an increase of 24 since a day earlier, which includes 85 ICU patients, four more than yesterday.
Health officials say area hospitals are prepared for what appears to be a second-wave surge in cases.
“We are surpassing our previous statewide surge” in July, county Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari said during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “It’s consistent with what’s happening in the nation.”
She said the county now has a state-adjusted new case rate of 22.4 per 100,000 residents and an overall state-calculated positivity rate of 8.9%, up from 6.7%.
Jeff Pack contributed to this report.Â
