As America celebrated Independence Day Saturday, Mississippi’s COVID-19 coronavirus cases continued to soar, breaking new records for the average number of new cases over the last two weeks.

The Mississippi State Department of Health reported Saturday an additional 990 new cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours bringing the total cases to 30,674. The state estimates more than 19,000 of those cases have fully recovered.

On Saturday, the state reported another sharp rise in patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, breaking previous records.

In total 872 people were in Mississippi hospitals yesterday with COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19. The previous record high of 863 was set the day two days ago.

The state also reported 4 new deaths were attributed to the virus bringing the total death toll to 1,107.

Mississippi’s 7-day average of new cases sharply rose to 735 per day, another new record.

The 7-day average remains more than double was it less than two weeks prior.

The 14-day average of daily new cases rose Saturday to 644 cases per day, a new record high.

Mississippi’s death toll from coronavirus includes 537 people from long-term care facilities or 48.5 percent of the total deaths.