For the fourth consecutive week, the number of new COVID cases recorded each day on average has dropped in Chautauqua County. That comes as cases across New York state and the nation have come down recently.

The county Health Department on Wednesday reported 1,026 new cases for the week ending Jan. 29 — or slightly more than 146 each day last week.

For the week ending Jan. 22, the county reported about 236 average daily cases; about 249 a day for the week ending Jan. 15; and about 265 a day for the week ending Jan. 8.

The health department did note four new virus-related deaths, and the number of people in the hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19 increased, with 37 hospitalizations as of Saturday.

There have been 25,557 total confirmed cases to date as well as 25,066 recoveries and 299 virus-related deaths.