Riverside County hospitalizations now less than half of winter peak

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Riverside County dropped over the weekend to less than half the peak reached a month ago amid a winter surge in virus infections, but another 57 virus-related deaths were reported Monday. According to the Riverside University Health System, coronavirus hospitalizations countywide declined to 768, compared to 847 on Friday. That includes 209 patients in intensive care units, a drop of 11. No data was released over the weekend. Virus-related hospitalizations peaked near 1,700 on Jan. 10, according to RUHS. The aggregate number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the pandemic began in early March 2020 reached 282,736, up 2,506 from Friday, officials said. RUHS said a total of 3,377 deaths stemming from virus-related complic