Seven additional deaths were reported as of Thursday.
The Orange County Health Care Agency reported on Thursday, June 25, another seven deaths, raising the total in the county since the start of tracking the coronavirus to 306.
Of those who have died,157 were residents of skilled nursing facilities, up from 152 in Tuesday’s daily report.
There were 506 new cases of coronavirus, but officials said that number was playing catch up for delays from 28 different testing dates.
“Skilled nursing facilities continue to be a concern and source of additional cases and deaths, however, they are not responsible for the recent increases,” a spokeswoman said, adding cases in the facilities “have been trending down as a proportion of cases. With businesses reopening and relaxation of the state’s stay-at-home order, it is not surprising that cases would increase.”
Also, Wednesday’s daily update reported 26 deaths, but officials noted that “doesn’t necessarily represent a surge in deaths, but it represents deaths from many different days in recent weeks.”
“There is a delay in identification and confirmation of deaths” and the large number that day was the “result of a concentrated effort to reconcile death certificates with reported cases.”
Officials also emphasized “social distancing, hand washing, self-monitoring for symptoms, staying home when ill, wearing face coverings when unable to socially distance” are important as the county reopens further.
