ORANGE COUNTY statistics for coronavirus showed 872 new cases on Tuesday (Shutterstock).

New confirmed cases of coronavirus in Orange County show another sharp increase, although that statistic comes with an asterisk.

The county health agency reported Tuesday that 872 new cases of the virus were reported, compared to Monday’s average of the previous days of 665. However, the OCHCA noted that because of delays in the state reporting system, Tuesday’s numbers reflected a 30-hour period, rather than a 24-hour cycle.

Deaths declined from two to zero. Hospitalizations rose from 322 to 333. The count of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units declinead from 68 to 62.

To date, Orange County has had 267,039 cases of coronavirus, of which 251,873 are considered recovered. Deaths are at 5,143.

Nationwide, new cases are up 142 percent over a 14-day period, according to The New York Times. Deaths have increased by 27 percent.

In California, cases are up 119 percent and deaths by 37 percent over a similar period, reports the Los Angeles Times.