New COVID cases decline in D.C. region, but deaths rise

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in D.C. have dipped further after running steady for a week.

• But both metrics remain higher than before the surge took off in mid-December.

By the numbers: In D.C., the daily case rate per 100,000 residents is at 43.6. That's down 15% from seven days ago. 

• Hospitalizations continue their decline to 394 patients.

Why it matters: While cases and hospitalizations come down, deaths are seeing an uptick. 

• Health experts have long said deaths can lag behind case spikes, rising weeks after a peak in new cases. 
• D.C. reported five new deaths from Friday to Monday. 

In the month of January, 71 deaths were reported, up from 22 in December.