Orange County coronavirus cases at 431, with 4 deaths

Orange County on Sunday said its total cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus had risen to 431, though no new deaths were reported.

The overall number of cases was 403 on Saturday, including four deaths, and on Friday the case number was 321.

The increases come as the county is doing more testing. As of Sunday, the county had performed 5,185 tests. On Saturday, that number stood at more than 4,800.

Officials on Friday began releasing city-by-city coronavirus cases. As of Sunday, Anaheim (41), Irvine (38) Newport Beach (37) and Huntington Beach (33) had the highest totals.

But officials cautioned about how to view that list.

“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.”

David Souleles, director of public health services for the Orange County Health Care Agency, added 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.”

Luke Money writes for the Los Angeles Times. Hillary Davis is a Daily Pilot staff writer.

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