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Stanly County averaged 24 new cases over the past week, the lowest tally in several months, according to data from the Stanly County Health Department.

The health department recorded 171 new cases this week, the lowest since 124 cases were recorded in the last week of July. The 24 daily cases is the lowest average since the week of July 30, when the county experienced about 18 new cases each day. By comparison, less than a month ago for the week of Sept. 24, the county was experiencing almost 50 cases a day.

The health department reported 17 new cases on Wednesday, the first time the total had been below 20 since late July. Just about a month ago, on Sept. 10, the department reported 119 new cases.

The number of new cases peaked at 474 for the week of Sept. 17 and have largely been on the decline since.

Two weeks after the county recorded the 474 cases in mid-September, the county total fell by more than half to 219 for Oct. 1 and basically stayed the same the following week at 222.

Since the pandemic first began last spring, there have been roughly 11,400 cases reported in Stanly County, according to the health department.

Daily hospitalizations have also declined in recent weeks. The health department reported 20 people hospitalized as of Friday, a 49 percent decrease from the peak of 39 people in the hospital, which occurred on Sept. 2.

The county reported at least 30 people hospitalized for 15 straight days from late August to mid-September, before the totals began to decrease. The number of daily hospitalizations has not exceeded 24 since late September.

Across the state, less than 2,100 people were hospitalized as of Thursday, the lowest single-day total since early August. The 564 people in the ICU was also the lowest total since early August.

The county’s rate, as of Thursday, is 8.7 percent, half of what it was in early September when it approached 17 percent, and the lowest total since late July. Once the rate falls below 7.9 percent for two consecutive weeks, Stanly County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis will be able to make masks optional for students and staff.

Stanly County Health Director David Jenkins said that even with cases decreasing, people should still follow safety protocols.

“Until our positivity rate drops below 5%, I would recommend everyone continue to follow the guidance to reduce transmission,” he told the SNAP. “The decision to gather (for upcoming holidays) will require families to weigh the risk versus the benefits based on their potential exposure to Covid-19.”

So far in October, eight people have died as a result of contracting COVID-19, bringing the total since last spring to 186.