Lynchburg-area colleges and universities Wednesday reported a total of 35 active COVID-19 cases among students and staffers, continuing a nearly monthlong downward trend in total cases. Liberty University, the largest institution of higher learning in the region with about 15,000 students, reported a total of 22 active cases, marking the fourth week in a row that cases have fallen at the university. At least 19 Liberty students and three employees are currently sick with COVID-19, according to the universityâs COVID-19 dashboard. Last week, 33 students and six employees were ill. Liberty defines an active case as an infection reported in the last 10 days. The number of new daily COVID-19 cases in the region has been on the decline since cases peaked in the middle of January. The Central Virginia Health District, which includes Lynchburg and the bordering counties, has reported 307 new cases in the past seven days, down from the 639 cases reported a week earlier.