MONDAY’S Orange County coronavirus metrics continue to be encouraging (Shutterstock).

Monday’s statistics on new COVID-19 cases and deaths reported to the Orange County Health Care Agency all point toward a step forward on Tuesday in easing restrictions prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

A change in tier from “widespread” to the less restrictive “substantial” tier is expected to be announced tomorrow.

Just 113 new cases are in today’s report from the OCHCA and no deaths. The cumulative number of OC cases is now at 49,845 and deaths at 1,053. Of the cases, 43,597 are considered to be recovered.

Two hundred thirty eight cases are hospitalized and of that, 75 are in intensive care units.

Here are the cities with the most cases, along with numbers for two West Orange County cases. Deaths are in parentheses.

• Santa Ana: 9,579 (250).
• Anaheim: 8,536 (226).
• Garden Grove: 2,728 (71).
• Huntington Beach: 2,259 (69).
• Orange: 2,528 (52).

Westminster has 939 cases and 24 deaths; Stanton has 615 cases and 12 deaths.