There were 739 new cases of COVID-19 in Alabama and 38 deaths from the disease, the state Department of Public Health reported Friday in its daily update.

The agency said there have been 491,849 cases of the coronavirus and 9,869 deaths since the pandemic began last March.

The state averaged 948 new cases a day over the past week. That compares with an average of 935 a week earlier and 2,767 one month ago.

The coronavirus hospitalization rate continued to shrink, with 722 inpatients reported across the state on Thursday. There were 989 patients a week earlier and 2,277 a month ago on Jan. 25.

ADPH said 1,087,285 doses of vaccine have been delivered to the state, and 839,409 have been administered. It said 254,907 people have received both doses of the vaccine.