Ohio had nearly a 50 percent decline in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in one week.

It was the third straight week of declines after 11 consecutive weeks of increases.

This week saw a 49.3 percent drop from last week and a 329 percent decline from two weeks ago.

There were 481 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the period between Jan. 27 and Wednesday compared to 949.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 last week, according to data provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health.

The last time COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Ohioans was this low was Nov. 11, 2021, at 410.5.

“The omicron wave is receding about as quickly as it arose,” Bruce Vanderhoff, ODH director, said.

But he added: “It is certainly not a time for us to let our guard down.”

The rates in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana again were among the lowest of the 88 counties in Ohio.

The state had 1,582 COVID-19 cases two weeks ago, a record-high 2,154.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 1,883.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 1,818.8 cases per 100,000 residents five weeks ago.

The state’s cases are almost five 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.

“Although our case numbers have, in fact, substantially improved from our omicron peak, it’s important to put our current numbers into perspective,” Vanderhoff said.

“There is no doubt that we are quickly moving in the right direction,” but he said, “it is simply too early for us to declare victory given the reality that thousands of Ohioans are still being diagnosed with COVID-19 each and every day.”

The state’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate has declined from its Jan. 11 peak of 6,729 to 2,669 Thursday, according to Ohio Hospital Association statistics.

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 74th in the state this week with 344.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 77th in the state last week with 620.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Mahoning was 76th two weeks ago with 1,102.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 72nd three weeks ago with 1,789.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 18th four weeks ago with 1,943.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 10th five weeks ago with 2,010.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Trumbull is 78th in the state this week with 294.5 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 78th last week with 541 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull was 79th two weeks ago with 958.2 cases per 100,000 residents, 78th three weeks ago with 1,546.7 cases per 100,000 residents, 47th four weeks ago with 1,649.2 cases per 100,000 residents and 18th five weeks ago with 1,733.6 cases per 100,000.

Columbiana is 65th this week with 442.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 70th last week with 784.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana also was 70th two weeks with 1,384.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 70th again three weeks ago with 1,797.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 68th four weeks ago with 1,385.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 46th five weeks ago with 1,300.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

dskolnick@vindy.com