The average number of COVID-19 cases in Alabama dropped Friday for the fifth consecutive day,

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported 2,569 new cases in its daily update, raising the total for the pandemic to 784,484. The state has averaged 2,806 cases a day over the past week, reflecting a decline for five days in a row. The weekly average is down by 16% since Friday of last week.

ADPH reported 123 deaths in its daily update. There have been 13,921 deaths from COVID over the course of the pandemic, and the state averaged 125 a day over the past seven days. The 7-day average was 63 a day the previous Friday. It takes about two weeks for a death to be reported and confirmed as being from the coronavirus.

The number of people hospitalized for COVID has dropped by 22% during the past week, accosrding to figures reported by the Alabama Hospital Association. There were 1,731 inpatients on Thursday, including 40 pediatric patients.