Despite the higher number of COVID-19 cases in Ohio in recent weeks, the number of cases being reported in Mahoning Valley nursing homes and assisted living facilities remained low this week.

There were no new cases reported in any Columbiana County nursing home. There was only one new case reported in any Trumbull County facility.

Mahoning County has four facilities with at least three new virus cases this week, including Park Vista in Youngstown.

According to data reported by the Ohio Department of Health, Park Vista has had almost the same number of patient cases for three straight weeks. The number has been 12 or 13 each week. It has no new staff cases this week.

Antonine Village, which is on Lipkey Road in North Jackson, is on the list this week because it has had three new patient cases. It has had a total of seven patient cases and no staff cases since reporting began April 15.

The facility, run by the Antonine Sisters, offers assisted living, memory care and adult care in 73 living units. The Antonine Sisters are members of the Maronite Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome, according to its web site.

The facility provides updates on its web site regarding virus cases, starting with Oct. 1, when a resident tested positive and was hospitalized. The facility tested residents on the same floor as the affected patient Oct. 2 and tested memory care patients Oct. 3.

The results were that a second patient tested positive. A patient whose earlier test was inconclusive went to the hospital after having a runny nose and fatigue and tested positive a few days later. The two hospitalized patients had only mild symptoms and have since returned to the facility.

All staff were tested Oct. 6 and will be retested every couple weeks, the facility reported. Patients were going to be tested again each week. The most recent listing was for Monday, when two assisted living residents tested positive.

Statewide, patient cases rose at nursing homes and assisted living facilities this week. There were 947 patient cases a week ago, but that rose to 1,087 this week. There were 576 staff cases last week, but that increase to 755 cases this week.

Three additional deaths reported at long-term facilities this week. Columbiana County rose from 52 to 53, Mahoning rose from 191 to 192, and Trumbull rose from 77 to 78.

There also were no changes in the number of inmates at Trumbull Correctional Institution in Leavittsburg and Northeast Ohio Correctional Center on Hubbard Road in Youngstown with the virus. Both reported having none.