New COVID-19 cases are down about 70 percent since the peak of the delta variant surge, which began in July. Cases numbers and hospitalizations rose sharply for almost two months straight and peaked in September at nearly 190,000 new cases per day. Daily cases are now down to about 56,000 per day.

In Alachua County, the delta surge peaked in August. New cases last week totaled 195, according to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard, down from 1,644 cases the week of August 13. 

Deaths attributed to COVID-19 have also dropped sharply. At the delta variant peak, 2,400 Americans were dying of the illness each day. That number is now under 1,000.

At its January peak, COVID-19 claimed more than 4,000 lives in the United States each day. But the vast majority of those who are most vulnerable to severe disease are now vaccinated. Ninety-seven percent of adults 65 and up have received at least one dose, and 85 percent of them are fully vaccinated.

Through Sunday, Alachua County is offering a $25 gift card to residents who get a COVID-19 vaccine at participating locations. 

With reporting from J.C. Derrick

This story originally appeared in WORLD. © 2021, reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.