O.C. logs 1,028 new coronavirus infections in 24-hour period; young account for most cases

Orange County residents coming off the Fourth of July holiday weekend learned Monday 1,028 new coronavirus cases had been logged countywide — marking the first time more than 1,000 infections have been reported in a 24-hour period.

Officials with the Orange County Health Care Agency reported no new deaths in their daily tracking but confirmed a 13.8% testing positivity rate among the 4,157 tests reported Monday, compared to a statewide rate of just 6.8%.

Approximately 634 individuals were hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, with 203 being treated in ICU units, according to agency figures. Among all intensive care beds in the county, about 41.6% are currently available to accept new patients.

While older residents are still the most likely to die from COVID-19, young people continue to account for the bulk of new infections.

Youngsters on scooters roll down the bike trail near the Balboa Pier while wearing face coverings on Monday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Out of the 17,882 cases recorded so far in Orange County, more than 40% of patients have been under age 35, with those between the ages of 25 to 34 accounting for more than 22% of all infections countywide.

Gov. Gavin Newsom in a news conference Monday attributed the troubling trend to a cohort of “young invincibles,� who believe the coronavirus will not seriously impact them, even if they should contract it.

“Even if you’re young and feel you are invincible, someone you may come into contact with — if you’re pre-symptomatic and you still feel no symptoms — you can potentially spread that disease to someone who may have a compromised immune system,� Newsom said.

He encouraged Californians of all ages to follow three basic principles of self-protection — physical distancing, mask wearing and hand washing.

“Our energy, our enthusiasm in this space for bending this curve has not diminished,� he said.

Here are the latest cumulative case counts and deaths for select cities:

• Santa Ana: 3,495 cases; 96 deaths
• Anaheim: 3,258 cases; 91 deaths
• Huntington Beach: 873 cases; 40 deaths
• Irvine: 549 cases; five deaths
• Costa Mesa: 502 cases; three deaths
• Newport Beach: 412 cases; two deaths
• Fountain Valley: 156 cases; six deaths
• Laguna Beach: 75 cases; fewer than five 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.

Employees at the Cabo Cantina serve to-go drinks on the bike trail while wearing face coverings near the Balboa Pier on Monday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.