The number of COVID-19 cases in Ohio saw a small decline for the second straight week.

The state had a 2.7 percent decrease in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents this week compared to last week.

Mahoning County dropped to 14th this week after having the third-highest rate among the state’s 88 counties last week. Cases in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana declined from last week.

The second straight week of modest declines — it dropped 5.5 percent last week — came after eight weeks of increases in the state. Before that, there were 10 consecutive weeks of declines and, prior to that, 11 straight weeks of increases.

Even with the declines the past two weeks, cases in Ohio during the past 10 weeks are up 720 percent.

There were 267.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the two-week period between May 26 and Wednesday compared to 275.2 cases per 100,000 last week, according to data provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health.

Ohio had 291.1 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 269 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 205.7 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 146.9 cases per 100,000 residents five weeks ago.

It hit a record-high 2,154.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents on Jan. 20, 20 weeks ago.

Of the state’s 88 counties, 86 had more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents and 60, including Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana, had more than 200 cases per 100,000 residents.

Eighty-five counties were above 100 cases per 100,000 residents last week, 83 counties above that level two weeks ago, 81 three weeks ago, 67 four weeks ago and 45 five weeks ago. Just one was eight weeks ago.

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

A total of 18,247 COVID-19 cases were reported in the state last week as of Thursday. In comparison, Ohio had 17,530 last week, 19,546 COVID-19 cases two weeks ago, 19,536 three weeks ago, 15,970 COVID-19 cases four weeks ago and 11,013 COVID-19 cases five weeks ago.

The ODH said Thursday it won’t report new COVID-19 deaths until June 23 “because the National Center for Health Statistics is implementing a new coding system. While death records will continue to be added to our database, no specific causes of death will be assigned. This means there will be no additions to the COVID-19 death total reported (today) and June 16. Once the new coding system is operational, all deaths that were entered during the pause will be updated with causes.”

The state’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate has declined from its Jan. 11 peak of 6,729 to 749 Thursday, according to Ohio Hospital Association statistics. It’s slightly down from 753 last week, but more than the 687 two weeks ago, 640 three weeks ago, 524 four weeks ago and 436 five weeks ago.

VALLEY RATES

Mahoning is 14th in the state this week among the 88 counties with 301.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It had a 17.7 percent decline in cases per 100,000 from last week.

It was third last week with 366.4 COVID-19 cases per 100.000 residents.

Mahoning was ninth two weeks ago with 354.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 21st three weeks ago with 246.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 36th four weeks ago with 149.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 43rd five weeks ago with 102.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Trumbull is 33rd in the state this week with 256.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It saw a 6.8 percent decline from last week.

It was 24th last week with 275.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull was tied for 25th two weeks ago with 278.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 32nd three weeks ago with 212.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 47th four weeks ago with 128.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 52nd five weeks ago with 90.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Columbiana is 59th this week with 205.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It had a 14.4 percent decline from last week.

It was 38th last week with 239.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana was tied with Trumbull for 25th two weeks ago with 278.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 30th three weeks ago with 217.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 31st four weeks ago with 159 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 33rd five weeks ago with 115.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

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