The high numbers of COVID-19 that hit the state in January appear to be a memory as the virus rate continues to plummet.

“Like the rest of the nation, Ohio appears to have put the most recent surge behind us,” Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said. “New cases and hospitalizations are at their lowest levels since last July.”

But Vanderhoff warned: “COVID-19 has played real havoc throwing us curveballs.”

Thursday’s report was the second weekly one from the ODH, which switched March 13 from daily to weekly reports as cases decline in the state.

The daily updates were provided for the past two years, dating back to March 2020 when the first COVID-19 cases were reported in Ohio. A total of 3,668 COVID-19 cases and 185 deaths were reported in the last week as of Thursday.

There were 41.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the period between March 10 and Wednesday, compared to 49.4 cases per 100,000 last week, according to ODH data provided Thursday.

The state saw a 16.6 percent reduction in cases per 100,000 residents from last week.

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

Of the state’s 88 counties, only four are at high risk: Hocking, Lawrence, Monroe and Athens.

The rate hasn’t been this low statewide since July 15, 2021, when 27 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents were reported by the ODH.

Ohio had 70.4 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 104.7 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 160.7 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 255.8 COVID-19 cases five weeks ago.

It hit a record high 2,154.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents nine weeks ago.

Also, the state’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate has declined from its Jan. 11 peak of 6,729 to 423 Thursday, according to Ohio Hospital Association statistics.

VALLEY RATES

Still, Trumbull and Columbiana are among the counties with the highest rates of the virus this week among the 88 counties.

Trumbull is 22nd in the state this week with 50 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 30th last week with 59.1 cases per 100,000 residents. 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.

Trumbull was 64th two weeks ago with 59.6 cases per 100,000 residents, 69th three weeks ago with 79.8 cases per 100,000 residents, 72nd four weeks ago with 126.4 cases per 100,000 residents and 76th four weeks ago with 166.7 cases per 100,000.

Columbiana is 29th this week with 46.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 55th last week with 46.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana was 47th two weeks ago with 76.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 32nd three weeks ago with 132.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 41st four weeks ago with 185.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 49th five weeks ago with 278.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Mahoning is 54th in the state this week with 34.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 60th last week with 44.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Mahoning was 68th two weeks ago with 54.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 71st three weeks ago with 77.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 69th four weeks ago with 126.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and also 69th five weeks ago with 208.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.