More COVID-19 deaths in the Mahoning Valley have been reported so far this week than any other week in more than three months.

As of Friday, 18 deaths were reported in the Valley: nine in Columbiana, five in Mahoning and four in Trumbull counties.

It’s the most reported COVID-19 deaths in the Valley since the week of June 7 with 23.

There were seven last week, 15 the week of Aug. 30, 12 the week of Aug. 23 and five the week of Aug. 16.

It doesn’t mean all of the deaths occurred in those weeks. Oftentimes reported COVID-19 deaths and cases lag behind actual ones by several weeks.

Among the 18 reported in the Valley this week were eight at an unidentified long-term care facility in Columbiana County that didn’t report to the Ohio Disease Reporting System until Wednesday when the deaths occurred between Aug. 26 and Sunday.

Also, the 197 reported deaths in Ohio so far this week is the most reported since 218 during the week of July 26.

The state reported 6,028 new COVID-19 cases this week through Friday — an average of 1,005 per day. If the state reaches that average today, it will end the week with 7,033 cases.

That is higher than last week’s 6,783 total new cases but lower than every week but one since June 28. That exception was 6,491 during the week of Aug. 16.

Ohio reported 142,596 total COVID-19 cases Friday, an increase of 1,011 from a day earlier. Of the total cases, 120,858 are presumed recovered with 4,608 fatalities, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Mahoning County listed 2,981 total cases Friday with 2,583 presumed recovered and 279 deaths.

Trumbull County reported 1,841 total cases Friday with 1,627 presumed recovered and 131 deaths.

Columbiana County had 1,922 total cases Friday with 1,762 presumed recovered with 80 deaths, including one reported Friday.

COVID-19 by the numbers

The number of cases, changes in cases and deaths in counties in the region and statewide as of Friday:

County Case Change since Change since Deaths

yesterday last week

Trumbull 1,841 +4 +41 131

Mahoning 2,981 +13 +46 279

Columbiana 1,922 +10 +20 80

Ohio 142,596 +1,011 +7,270 4,608

SOURCE: Ohio Department of Health