RECENT STATISTICS on the coronavirus in the OC may offer some reason for optimism (Shutterstock).

It might not yet be the light at the end of the tunnel, but it could be a lessening of the darkness.

For the first time in a long time, all four major metrics charting the status of the coronavirus pandemic in Orange County are pointing in the right direction. That is, down.

According to the county health care agency, the number of new cases reported Friday was down sharply, from 1,340 to 892. Deaths dropped dramatically from 38 on Thursday to one on Friday.

Hospitalizations fell from 1,935 to 1,896 and COVID-19 patients being treated in intensive care units slipped slightly from 517 to 516.

Public health officials caution against reacting too strongly to day-to-day variations in such numbers, but by comparison, new cases on Jan. 16 hit 3,454. Deaths on Jan. 15 were at 82.

Cumulative cases in the county now stand at 218,741, of which 150,088 are considered recovered. Deaths are at 2,547.

Here is a list of OC cities with the most cases. Deaths are in parentheses.

• Santa Ana: 39,792 (472)
• Anaheim: 36,705 (503)
• Garden Grove: 14,063 (177)
• Orange: 10,285 (124)
• Fullerton: 9,764 (168)
• Huntington Beach: 8,909 (123)

Westminster has had 6,006 cases and 92 deaths. Stanton has 2,735 cases and 32 deaths.