More than 70,000 COVID cases and 1,200 new deaths were reported in the U.S. this week, the ninth week in a row with over a thousand deaths, according to figures collected by BNO News. News cases are continuing to drop nationwide in the aftermath of the summer wave. At least 70,360 new cases were reported between October 7 and October 13, down from 91,800 the week before (-23%). Those figures were collected from state health departments and, where necessary, estimated based on hospital admissions. Actual case numbers are higher because many hospitals and states are no longer reporting detailed …