Newport Beach’s 32 coronavirus cases among most in cities as O.C. total climbs to 321

Newport Beach is one of the leaders among Orange County cities in reported cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to data released Friday by the county Health Care Agency.

The county reported a total of 321 cases and three deaths countywide as of Friday, an increase of 71 cases and two deaths compared with Thursday.

Newport had 32 of the cases, while Irvine had 33. The cities of residence of the three patients who died were not revealed.

The Health Care Agency’s Public Health Lab and commercial labs have tested 4,070 people combined.

Here are the cases reported for select cities:

• Irvine: 33
• Newport Beach: 32
• Anaheim: 28
• Huntington Beach: 26
• Santa Ana: 13
• Costa Mesa: 8
• Fountain Valley: 5
• Unknown: 34

The county did not break out cases in cities with populations of less than 25,000. That includes Laguna Beach.

“COVID-19 now has reached community transmission status, which means people may have contracted the illness elsewhere in the county. This may not necessarily be in the city where they live,” the county said in a statement. “These data should not be interpreted as an indication of activity in any specific location. Under a community transmission status, the true prevalence of this disease may not be known, as most cases are likely not diagnosed or reported.”

“The numbers by city are interesting and tell us a little bit about geographic distribution of those that have been tested,” David Souleles, director of public health services for the Orange County Health Care Agency, said at a news conference Friday. “ We know that there is risk countywide. We don’t need people to assume that either if their city has a high number or a low number that they are either at a greater risk or a lesser risk.”

On Tuesday, Orange County reported its first coronavirus-related death, a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions. The county did not provide such information about the two additional deaths.

See more data at occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/coronavirus-in-oc.

Daily Pilot staff writer Faith E. Pinho contributed to this report.

Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.