While scientists continue looking at the COVID-19 data from across the country and the state, the numbers are clear. Cases and hospitalizations are dropping. "I believe the decline is absolutely real," Dr. Thomas Unnasch with USF Public Health said. For Unnasch, things really are trending in the right direction. The professor says the only numbers that haven't shown a decline yet are for COVID-19 deaths. "But don't forget the deaths really lag behind. I think we should see a drop in the next 3-4 weeks," Unnasch said. For now there are 4 reasons that could explain decline in cases.