Evan J. LancasterOn Tuesday, Nov. 10, the Orange County Health Agency reported 267 new cases of COVID-19, and three COVID-19 related deaths.
With that total, Orange County reported more than 2,000 cases within seven days. In fact, there were 2,655 new cases from Nov. 3 to Nov. 10.
Prior to this week, the county’s highest 7-day average of new COVID-19 cases was 863 on July 12, during the county’s highest peak of daily cases.
In an Instagram post, the city of Irvine reported seven of the county’s 260+ cases were related to Irvine. As of Tuesday, Nov. 10, Irvine has reported 2,065 new COVID-19 cases, with 14 COVID-19 related deaths within the city.
The city also reminded residents that free testing is still available at the Orange County Great Park, by appointment.
“COVID-19 testing is available at the Orange County Great Park for anyone who lives or works in Irvine. Learn more and make an appointment 👉 cityofirvine.org/covid19testing.”
Orange County has also seen an increase in hospitalizations over the last month.
On Oct. 10, there were 164 patients hospitalized, including 57 in the ICU. A month later, on Nov. 10, the total number of hospitalized patients rose to 224, with 79 in the ICU.
With cases continuing to increase, and hospitalizations rising slightly over the last month, some health experts warn that winter could prove to be an even more difficult time to suppress the virus.
Andrew Noymer, associate professor of public health at UC Irvine spoke on a recent UCI Podcast, “What’s Next with COVID.”
Noymer explained that while Orange County is not experiencing a second wave at this time, looking to other parts of the United States as a barometer might forecast what to expect in the winter months.
“What we have to understand is that respiratory viral diseases are seasonal phenomenon with winter dominance. So our respiratory cylical viruses – influenza, common colds – even these are viruses that are spread via the respiratory route. Coronavirus will be the same thing. It’s going to be a highly seasonal phenomenon,” he said. “In Europe, we are seeing second waves. And the United States is seeing a patchwork of really different epidemiology, but the U.S. is seeing a second wave in Massachusetts, for example, as we’re taping this at the end of October. The atmospheric conditions and the our behavior in the wintertime – kids in school, people indoors, etc. – just combines to make these diseases more transmissible in the winter time.”
In August, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new tiers for COVID-19. The tiers (“Widespread” – purple, “Substantial” – red, “Moderate” – orange and “Minimal” – yellow) are now indicators of progress against the infection.
For now, Orange County remains in the Red Tier for COVID-19 monitoring, however, California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said if trends worsen or continue, most counties will need to move tiers.
“We anticipate, if things stay the way they are, that between this week and next week, over half of California counties will have moved into a more restrictive tier,” Ghaly said during a weekly COVID-19 update Tuesday. “That certainly is an indication that we’re concerned and that we have to keep a close watch on what’s happening.”
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