COVID-19 cases in Ohio are at their highest level in three months.

This was the sixth straight week with an increase in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the state.

During those six weeks, cases in Ohio have increased more than 550 percent.

Ohio had a 40 percent increase in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents this week compared to last week.

The six weeks of increases came after 10 consecutive weeks of declines. Before that, there were 11 straight weeks of increases.

There were 205.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the period between April 28 and Wednesday compared to 146.9 cases per 100,000 last week, according to data provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health.

The cases per 100,000 is the highest for Ohio since Feb. 17 when the rate was 255.8.

Ohio had 111.7 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 81.5 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 56.6 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 41.3 cases per 100,000 residents five weeks ago.

It hit a record high 2,154.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents 16 weeks ago.

Of the state’s 88 counties, 67, including Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana, had more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents. There were 45 counties above that level last week, 22 counties two weeks ago, 10 counties three weeks ago and just one four weeks ago.

The ODH switched March 13 from daily to weekly reports. The reports are provided on Thursdays.

There were a total of 15,970 COVID-19 cases in the last week as of Thursday. In comparison, there were 11,013 COVID-19 cases last week, 8,731 COVID-19 cases two weeks ago, 6,890 cases three weeks ago, 4,808 cases four weeks ago and 3,828 cases five weeks ago.

Also, there were 57 COVID-19 deaths in the state reported in the last week as of Thursday.

The state’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate has declined from its Jan. 11 peak of 6,729 to 524 Thursday, according to Ohio Hospital Association statistics. But it’s an increase from 436 a week ago and 344 two weeks ago.

VALLEY RATES

The rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents this week increased in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, but all are below the state number.

Mahoning is 36th in the state this week among the 88 counties with 149.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 43rd last week with 102.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Mahoning was 31st two weeks ago with 86.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 30th three weeks ago with 63.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 46th four weeks ago with 39.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 28th five weeks ago with 39.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Trumbull is 47th in the state this week with 128.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 52nd last week with 90.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull was 42nd two weeks ago with 74.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 25th three weeks ago with 66.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 26th four weeks ago with 54 cases per 100,000 residents and 21st five weeks ago with 45.5 cases per 100,000.

Columbiana is 31st this week with 159 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 33rd last week with 115.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana was 39th two weeks ago with 76.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 37th three weeks ago with 57.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 64th four weeks ago with 29.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 59th five weeks ago with 26.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

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