Orange County Officials Report 10 Additional Coronavirus Deaths, 205 New Cases Bringing Total Over 9K
SANTA ANA (CBSLA) — Orange County health officials reported 205 new coronavirus cases and 10 additional deaths Wednesday bringing the death toll to 243, 26 of which occurred this week.
The county's total number of cases now stands at 9,197.
Since June 5, 69 people have died from the virus in Orange County.
Last week the county reported 36 fatalities, eleven of which were reported over the weekend.
According to the Health Care Agency, 124 deaths involved residents of skilled nursing home facilities.
As of Monday, the county reported 1,047 residents of nursing homes have tested positive for coronavirus and 565 staffers have been infected.
The number of people hospitalized rose from 300 on Tuesday to 328 on Wednesday. The number of patients in intensive care decreased to 131.
One of those patients includes Anaheim Fire Capt. Dave Baker, who was admitted to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo on June 7, according to his wife.
Another firefighter who was in intensive care is out of the unit, but remains hospitalized and is "showing improvement,'' Anaheim Fire & Rescue spokesman Shane Carringer said.
To date, the county has 4,414 documented recoveries.
Last Friday, bars, gyms and movie theaters were authorized to begin reopening along with community pools, schools, day camps, museums, galleries, zoos, aquariums, wineries and family entertainment centers.
The day prior, Orange County officials lifted face mask requirements, although health officials still strongly recommended people wear them.
Health experts continue to stress to residents the importance of wearing face coverings in public.
"It is not for your individual protection,'' said HCA Assistant Director Lilly Simmering said. "It is to protect others... from potentially contracting COVID-19 if you do not know you have it.''
Ventura County has also seen a large increase in hospitalizations since reopening — up 75% in the past two weeks.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)
