COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Ohioans dropped under 1,000 for the first time in seven weeks.

It also was the second straight week with a decline after 11 consecutive weeks of increases.

The 949.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the period between Jan. 20 and Wednesday is down 40 percent from last week’s 1,582 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, according to data provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health. It’s also less than half of what the number was two weeks ago when the state set a record high.

The last time cases were reported below 1,000 was Dec. 16, 2021, at 783.2.

Even with the decline, this week had the eighth-highest number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Ohioans on record since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

The rates in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana again ranked among the lowest among the 88 counties in Ohio, and the three counties had a slightly larger decline in cases than the state as a whole.

The state had a record high 2,154.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 1,883.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 1,818.8 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 1,364.7 cases per 100,000 residents five weeks ago.

The state’s cases are about nine and one-half times what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider to be high transmission areas for COVID-19.

The CDC number for high transmission is 100 cases per 100,000. It hasn’t been below that since July 29 when 77.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents were reported by the ODH.

VALLEY RATES

The rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents also declined in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

The ODH measures cases per 100,000 residents among counties to get a fair comparison because total cases would result in more-populous counties ranking higher.

Mahoning is 77th in the state this week with 620.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 76th last week with 1,102.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. Cases declined in Mahoning by 43.7 percent in one week.

Mahoning was 72nd two weeks ago with 1,789.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 18th three weeks ago with 1,943.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 10th four weeks ago with 2,010.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 11th five weeks ago with 1,281.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Trumbull is 78th in Ohio this week with 541 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull was 79th last week with 958.2 cases per 100,000 residents. Cases declined in Trumbull by 43.5 percent since last week.

Trumbull was 78th two weeks ago with 1,546.7 cases per 100,000 residents, 47th three weeks ago with 1,649.2 cases per 100,000 residents, 18th four weeks ago with 1,733.6 cases per 100,000 residents and 17th five weeks ago with 1,152.7 cases per 100,000.

Columbiana is 70th this week with 784.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It also was 70th last week with 1,384.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, but had a 43.4 percent decline in a week.

Columbiana also was 70th two weeks ago with 1,797.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 68th three weeks ago with 1,385.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 46th four weeks ago with 1,300.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 40th five weeks ago with 876.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.