Number of OC residents hospitalized with COVID-19 increases

SANTA ANA (CNS) – The number of Orange County residents hospitalized with the coronavirus rose from 218 to 229 on Friday, but the number of those patients in intensive care rose from 58 to 54, according to the latest figures from the State.

The latest figure comes a day after county health officials reported 655 new cases of COVID-19 and five additional virus-related deaths, bringing the county’s cumulative total to 322,550 cases and 5,864 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The case rate per 100,000 population was 10.2 with a test positivity rate of 3.1% and 3.6% in the health equity quartile, which represents the neighborhoods hardest hit by the disease. pandemic, reported the Orange County Health Care Agency.

OCHCA does not release COVID data on weekends or holidays.

The county’s deputy health worker told reporters on Thursday that the highly contagious new variant of omicron was likely to be much more prevalent in the county than the two cases confirmed so far.

“I suspect that the projected data on the actual prevalence of omicron is probably over 60% of the county’s cases,” Dr Regina Chinsio-Kwong said on a weekly call with reporters.

The data “lags” from about a week to 10 days, she said.

“We suspect most of them are omicrons,” Chinsio-Kwong said of the rise in COVID-19 infections. “There will always be a Delta mix.”

Residents should do everything possible to avoid becoming infected by using a “tight fitting” face covering when indoors or gathering in large crowds or being vaccinated, Chinsio-Kwong said.

Even though the new variant has milder symptoms, there are just as many reasons to try to prevent transmission, she said.

“Whenever it infects an individual, it has a chance to mutate,” Chinsio-Kwong said. “We need everyone to take precautions and limit the spread of COVID. “

Testing has increased, she said.

“We know there is a lot more testing going on because antigen testing is flying off the shelves and antigen testing is going unreported,” Chinsio-Kwong said.

Parents should be on the lookout for additional testing before students return to class after winter break, she added.

The county had 20.3% of its intensive care beds and 68% of its ventilators available on Thursday. Among those hospitalized, 87% were not vaccinated and 88% in intensive care were not.

The case rate per 100,000 unvaccinated people was 30.9 as of December 18, the most recent statistics available. This is against 25.4 on December 11.

For those vaccinated, the case rate is 6.8, against 3.8 on December 11.

Studies show that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are at least 70% effective against infection with the omicron variant, Chinsio-Kwong said, adding that they almost always protect recipients from hospitalization or death.

The number of fully vaccinated residents in Orange County rose from 2,295,286 to 2,314,232, according to data released Thursday. This represents 67% of the county, Chinsio-Kwong said.

This number includes an increase from 2,144,648 to 2,162,816 of residents who have received the two-dose regimen of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

The number of residents receiving the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine increased from 150,638 to 151,416. The county distributed 768,412 booster shots.