RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Riverside County Monday, Nov. 30 reported a record number of coronavirus patients being treated in area hospitals.
The addition of 87 new patients over the weekend brought the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations countywide to 585, up from 498 on Friday, according to the Riverside University Health System. That number includes 129 patients being treated in intensive care units — up 14 from Friday.
The previous record high of 550 hospitalizations was set in July, according to RUHS data.
With 2,126 additional cases reported Monday — the agency does not release updated figures on weekends — the aggregate number of infections recorded countywide since the public health documentation period began in early March is 84,412, compared to 82,286 on Friday.
Health officials also reported five additional deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,442.
The number of known active virus cases countywide was 15,665, an increase of 1,518 from Friday. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 84,412 — according to the county Executive Office. The number of verified patient recoveries is 67,305.
With case totals rising across the state, Gov. Gavin Newsom today warned that a stay-at-home order could possibly be issued soon unless the trend reverses course.
In Riverside County last week, a briefing from public health officials focused on the surge in infections. RUHS Dr. Geoffrey Leung said hospitals throughout the region “are starting to feel the strain,” but added hospitals stand prepared for an influx of patients.
The county’s previous peak in hospitalizations occurred in mid-July. RUHS officials said if current trends continue, that number will be exceeded in December.
The county has more than 1,000 general and ICU beds available, but that doesn’t include emergency capacity, in which hospital floors are converted to critical care space, adding more beds as required.
The county’s state-adjusted COVID-19 case rate was 27.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to 22 per 100,000 three weeks ago, and an overall state-calculated positivity rate of 9.9%, up from 8.9%.
The county’s testing level is at 300 per 100,000. The revised state threshold for large counties is 272 per 100,000.
