Health experts in Orange County continue to cite vaccination as the top priority in the fight against COVID-19, but urge vigilance as case rates show pre-winter decline.

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, the Orange County Health Agency reported 219 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the county’s cumulative total to 302,235. HCA reported 666 new COVID-19 cases between Oct. 16 and Oct. 18, and 162 on Tuesday, Oct. 19.

Countywide, O.C. has recorded 5,538 total COVID-19 deaths, with three reported on Wednesday, Oct. 20.

In Irvine, the city reported 1,485 cases between October 12 and October 19. Cumulatively, Irvine has tallied 13,966 COVID-19 cases with 107 deaths.

On Monday, Oct. 18, Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, deputy health officer for the Orange County Health Agency, expressed optimism for the county’s current decline in COVID-19 rates.

In Orange County, Chinsio-Kwong said COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued a downward trend for a few weeks.

“We do see a reduction in hospitalizations, so our case rates and our positivity rates continue to gradually decline. Our currently hospitalized are now at 175, at the end of last week low 200s,” Chinsio-Kwong said.  

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, HCA reported 190 patients, with 41 patients in the ICU.

In terms of vaccinations, Orange County continues to see increases in vaccinations, with a cumulative total of 2,1417,048 fully vaccinated people in O.C. as of October 14.

However, speaking during a community COVID-19 update hosted by 2nd District Supervisor Katrina Foley, on Monday, Oct. 18, Chinsio-Kwong added that despite the current COVID-19 decline, winter weather will bring more people indoors. 

“Yes, we may be downward and we have lower numbers, lower hospitalization, but our county is open, we’re gathering, we’re working,” she said. “As the winter months come up and as all these holidays come up more people are going to gather and more people are going to be indoors.” 

Referencing the United Kingdom in terms of its COVID-19 surge trajectory, and substantial vaccination rates, Chinsio-Kwong emphasized it is too early to put masks away and continued to urge vaccination.

“They went down around August, and then they came back up and they are still surging. They are 66% vaccinated and 72% received one dose — this is the cautionary tale.”

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