Mississippi has cut its 7-day total number of new COVID-19 coronavirus cases in half since the state’s peak on July 26, state numbers released Monday indicate.

On Monday, the state again reported much lower-than-average numbers of new coronavirus cases with a total of only 276 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The last time the daily new case count was that low as on July 5, just after the Fourth of July holiday. Prior to that, the number had not been that low since mid-June.

Monday was also the ninth-straight day the 7-day average of new cases declined.

In the last seven days a total of 4,763 new cases have been reported. On July 26, the trailing 7-day total of new cases was 9,665.

“Don’t lose focus (masks, 6ft, small groups),” Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs wrote Sunday on Twitter. “It’s working! #MaskUpMS”

The state also reported 11 more deaths Monday from the prior day. Two deaths reported on Monday actually occurred between July 26 and 27, the state said.

In total, 72,412 cases have been found in the state since March. The state believes more than 56,000 of those cases have recovered.

A total of 2,095 people in Mississippi have died as a result of coronavirus, the state reported.

The 7-day and 14-day averages of new cases continued to decline, indicating that the state’s measures aimed at slowing the virus’ spread may be working.

The 7-day, daily average of new cases dropped to 680 with Monday’s update.

The 14-day, daily average dropped to 806 cases per day.