COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations were up this week after both numbers dropped earlier in the month. The average number of new cases jumped from eight to nine per day during the first week of July to 12-13 per day during the second week, according to Shasta County Public Health. Despite the increase, July's case numbers showed a slight improvement over those reported a month ago, when California ended its county-by-county COVID-19 tier system and lifted most restrictions on gatherings and businesses. Here is the latest information on the coronavirus in Shasta County, according to state and county public health branches: