The OC Health Care Agency reported 476 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, Feb. 17, increasing the cumulative total since tracking began in the county to 534,608.

The county has reported about 10,382 new cases in the last two weeks. One month ago, the 14-day average for new cases was about 93,148.

On Thursday, 399 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 in Orange County, including 76 patients in intensive care units. That’s 16 fewer people hospitalized than on Wednesday. The county’s COVID-19 dashboard shows that 84% of those hospitalized are unvaccinated and 86% of those in ICUs are not vaccinated.

A year ago on Feb. 17, Orange County had 663 people hospitalized with the coronavirus. The peak ffor the pandemic was Jan. 7, 2021, with 2,259 patients.

The county reported 24 more deaths on Thursday, increasing the total of those who have died from the virus in Orange County to 6,419.

The data on deaths in the county is compiled from death certificates or gathered through the course of case investigations and can take weeks to process. The most recent death recorded was on Feb. 9.

Of the 6,419 deaths reported from the virus, 1,265 were skilled nursing facility residents, 665 were in assisted living facilities, two were O.C. jail inmates and 19 were listed as homeless.

The county updated its vaccine totals and reported 2,256,253 residents (70%) have been fully vaccinated and about 1.18 million have had booster doses.

It is estimated 494,829 people have recovered from the virus. The count of people who have recovered is based on the prior 28-day cumulative case count.

Every home in the U.S. is now eligible to order four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days, officials said. You can sign up here.

Data posted each day is preliminary and subject to change, officials emphasize. More information may become available as individual case investigations are completed.

You can find the Orange County Health Care Agency dashboard here.

Click here to view or download the daily tracker.

Related Articles