The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Alabama dropped but the rate of hospitalizations rose to a record level in Monday’s daily update by the state Department of Public Health.

The agency reported 2,264 new cases of the disease, down from 2,790 the previous day but up from 1,731 for the same day last week. There have been 297,895 cases in the state since the pandemic began in March.

There has been a steady increase in recent weeks in the number of people being treated in Alabama hospitals for the coronavirus. The figure stood Sunday at 2,284, up from 2,021 one week ago and 1,731 two weeks ago.

Thw Health Department reported no new deaths in Monday’s update, with the figure remaining at 4,102.

Jackson County in northeast Alabama continued to lead the state in the number of new cases per capita over the past two weeks. The county has reported 1,993 deaths per 100,000 residents for that period. Clarke County, north of Mobile, was second at 1,867, followed by Etowah Couty, 1,478; Marshall County, 1,407; and Greene County, 1,405. Clarke and Greene have registered large increases in the per capita rate over the past week.

The list of counties with numbers of cases, individuals tested and deaths.