The average number of new cases of COVID-19 in Alabama dropped Wednesday for the 17th consecutive day, according to the daily update by the state Department of Public Health.

There were 1,272 new cases, raising the state’s COVID total to 804,249. The state has averaged 1,354 new cases a day over the past week, which is down by about 69% since an average of 4,309 on Sept. 6.

ADPH listed 70 new deaths, bringing the total for the pandemic to 14,612 and the daily average to 59 during the last seven days. It takes about two weeks for deaths to be reported, confirmed as being from the coronavirus and added to the count.

The Alabama Hospital Association said there were 1,145 COVID patients in hospitals across the state on Tuesday, including 23 pediatric cases. It said there are 1,528 staffed intensive care unit beds in Alabama, and 1,421 are occupied, 29% for the coronavirus.