The weekly average number of new COVID-19 cases in Alabama dropped Saturday for the 13th consecutive day, according to the state Department of Public Health’s daily update.

The agency reported 774 new cases of the disease in the latest 24-hour report. The state has averaged 875 cases a day over the past week. That is the lowest since an average of 863 on Oct. 2, and down from a high of 4,280 on the week that ended Jan. 10.

There have been 485,986 cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began last March.

The report listed 17 new deaths, bringing the total to 9,590 overall.

A total of 44,767 people have been hospitalized in Alabama with COVID-19, and the daily number of inpatients dropped below 1,000 this week for the first time since early November. The figure stood at 951 on Friday, reflecting a steady decline since a high of 3,084 on Jan. 11.

Saturday’s report said 16% of the individuals tested for the coronavirus during the latest showed positive. After reaching a high of 38% on Jan. 5, the positivity rate fell to 11% on Feb. 11 before bouncing up slightly this week.