COVID-19 updates: California reports over 509,000 cases statewide as deaths top 9,350

California public health officials announced Sunday that the state has now seen 509,162 total confirmed coronavirus cases – up by more than 9,000 from Saturday's count – and 9,356 deaths since the start of the pandemic. 

The seven-day average number of new cases is 7,929 per day, compared to the average from the week prior of 9,852, officials said. 

Overall, 8,035,975 tests have been conducted in the state — an increase of 149,388 from the last 24-hour reporting period. 

More than 60% of the state's cases are among 18 to 49-year-olds, according to health officials. The total cases are broken down by age as follows:

• 46,556 cases are among people ages 0 to 17
• 308,114 cases are among people ages 18 to 49
• 97,551 cases are among people ages 50 to 64
• 56,206 are among people ages 65+
• 735 were marked as "unknown or missing" ages

"As testing capacity continues to increase across the state, an increase in the number of positive cases has been expected – increasing the importance of positivity rates to find signs of community spread," the California Department of Public Health said. 

The department also stressed that the total number of people with "serious outcomes" will also increase as case numbers rise. 

Also as of Saturday, 24,174 confirmed cases have been reported among health care workers in California, with 128 deaths. 

Riverside County reported 37,011 confirmed cases as of Friday and 695 deaths; Riverside County does not update its case tally on weekends.  

San Bernardino County on Sunday reported 284 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and no new deaths, bringing the county's tally to 32,980 cases and 417 confirmed deaths.

Amanda Ulrich writes for The Desert Sun as a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at amanda.ulrich@desertsun.com.