No COVID-19 deaths reported as O.C. moves closer to state’s ‘moderate’ tier for reopening

No deaths from COVID-19 were reported Monday by the Orange County Health Care Agency, leaving the total number in the county at 1,216.

The agency also reported 133 new cases of the coronavirus.

The total number of cases in the county is now 53,448, not including 1,464 positive antigen cases, which are probable infections.

The declining deaths and case rates mean that as early as Tuesday the county could move into the “moderate” tier, which would allow shopping centers to reopen at full capacity, with the requirement that their common areas remain closed and food courts operate at reduced capacity.

Places of worship, museums, aquariums, zoos, restaurants and movie theaters would be able to open indoors with modifications at 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever number is less. Gyms and fitness centers would be able to open at 25% capacity.

Dr. Clayton Chau, the county health director, said in a media briefing last Monday that a decline in COVID-19 cases could help transition the county into the next tier on Tuesday, which would mark the third week since Orange County was placed in the second-most restrictive tier on Sept. 8. At a minimum, counties are required to remain in their tiers for three weeks before moving into the next.

Tiers are updated every Tuesday.

The county agency reported that the seven-day average for daily positive cases for every 100,000 residents is currently 3.6 and the seven-day average for testing positivity rates is at 3.1%. Both are within the state’s thresholds to move into the next tier, which are an average of 1 to 3.9 cases for every 100,000 and 2 to 4.9% positive tests.

An estimated 47,955 patients have recovered, but 161 are currently hospitalized and 46 cases are in intensive care units.

Here are the latest cumulative coronavirus case counts and COVID-19 deaths for select cities in Orange County:

• Santa Ana: 10,302 cases; 274 deaths
• Anaheim: 9,147 cases; 263 deaths
• Huntington Beach: 2,396 cases; 71 deaths
• Costa Mesa: 1,807 cases; 30 deaths
• Irvine: 1,680 cases; 12 deaths
• Newport Beach: 1,125 cases; 25 deaths
• Fountain Valley: 508 cases; 16 deaths
• Laguna Beach: 224 cases; fewer than five deaths

Here are the case counts by age group, followed by deaths:

• 0 to 17: 3,785 cases; one death
• 18 to 24: 8,047 cases; four deaths
• 25 to 34: 11,527 cases; 18 deaths
• 35 to 44: 8,537 cases; 33 deaths
• 45 to 54: 8,623 cases; 105 deaths
• 55 to 64: 6,414 cases; 175 deaths
• 65 to 74: 3,206 cases; 246 deaths
• 75 to 84: 1,816 cases; 258 deaths
• 85 and older: 1,446 cases; 376 deaths

Updated figures are posted daily at occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/coronavirus-in-oc. For information on getting tested, visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/covid-19-testing.

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