SANTA ANA (CNS) - Orange County health officials have reported 31 more deaths from COVID-19 and 637 newly confirmed cases, bringing the county's totals to 36,833 cases and 649 fatalities.
Since Sunday, the county has reported 87 coronavirus-related deaths. Last week, the county reported 70 deaths, down from 73 the week before.
The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in Orange County hospitals dropped from 593 Friday to 546, while the number of patients in intensive care decreased from 191 to 169, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Four of Saturday's reported fatalities were skilled nursing facility residents, two were assisted living facility residents, and 25 did not live in a care facility, Of the total deaths, 267 were skilled nursing facility residents, 28 lived in assisted living facilities, and one was homeless.
Of the total cases, 1,675 were skilled nursing facility residents, 476 were jail inmates and 137 were homeless.
There are 57 jail inmates in medical isolation with COVID-19 and officials are awaiting the results of 45 tests. So far, 419 inmates have recovered from coronavirus.
Orange County is on the state's watch list for counties experiencing high rates of new cases and hospitalizations. It has shown some improvement, but with some continuing concerns.
The county's case rate per 100,000 residents was at 140, which is far higher than the California Department of Public Health threshold of 25 per 100,000 residents. The rate of residents testing positive for COVID-19 dipped from 9.3 percent to 9.2 percent, still above the state's desired rate of 8 percent.
The change in the three-day average of hospitalized patients went from -8.9 percent Friday to -10.2 percent, much lower than the state's threshold of 10 percent increase.
Available ICU beds was at 34 percent, and the percentage of ventilators available increased from 56 percent to 57 percent. The state's threshold is 20 percent of ICU beds available to handle a surge and 25 percent ventilators on hand.
The county reported that 415,621 COVID-19 tests have been conducted, with 6,357 reported Saturday. There have been 23,860 documented recoveries.
As area school officials map out a return to education next month, the HCA provided a breakdown on the number of coronavirus cases among various age groups of children.
The HCA reported that 348 children up to 3 years old have been infected; with 434 cases among children 4 to 9 years old; 338 among children 10 to 12; 319 among teens 13 and 14; and 1,167 among 15- to 18-year-olds.
In other coronavirus-related developments, county officials reported they have launched a second round of funding for the Orange County Workforce Development Board's "Layoff Aversion Support Program." Small businesses can apply for up to $10,000 in grants to help get through the pandemic and avoid layoffs, as well as implementing social distancing guidelines.
In May, officials doled out about $444,000, leaving $256,000 for another round of grants. To learn more and to apply, go to oconestop.com/covid- 19-layoff-aversion-program.
Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett on Friday announced that her district handed out $14.5 million in funding from the federal government earmarked to help small businesses and nonprofits.
Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner has awarded $500,000 to help out nonprofit arts organizations in his district.
Earlier this week, county officials unveiled a public education campaign modeled after the "stop, drop and roll" campaign used by fire departments. The "Face, Hands and Feet" campaign emphasizes the importance of wearing a mask, washing hands and staying six feet apart from others.