The number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Ohioans increased by 54.6 percent in the past three weeks.

This was the fourth straight week of increases, hitting levels not seen since February.

Also, the total number of people in Ohio hospitals with COVID-19 has exceeded 1,000 daily since July 14 after going more than four months below that.

There were 391.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the two-week period between July 6 and Wednesday compared to 334.1 cases per 100,000 last week, according to data provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health.

Cases per 100,000 haven’t been that high since 481 were reported Feb. 10 by the ODH.

COVID-19 hospitalizations were at 1,166 Thursday, according to Ohio Hospital Association statistics. It’s been more than 1,000 daily for eight straight days. Before July 14, it last reached 1,000 on March 3.

Twenty-two COVID-19 deaths were reported by the ODH since last week.

The four consecutive weeks of increases come after four straight weeks of modest decreases. Before that, there were eight weeks of increases and prior to that, 10 consecutive weeks of declines.

Cases in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana increased this week, although numbers in those counties are among the lowest in Ohio.

Ohio had 277.4 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 253.2 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 241.2 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 251.9 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.

Of the state’s 88 counties, 86 had more than 200 cases per 100,000 residents and 69 exceeded 300 cases per 100,000.

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

A total of 26,610 COVID-19 cases were reported in the last week as of Thursday.

In comparison, 24,465 COVID-19 cases were reported last week, 18,838 COVID-19 cases two weeks ago, 17,225 COVID-19 cases three weeks ago, 16,159 COVID-19 cases four weeks ago and16,169 COVID-19 cases five weeks ago.

VALLEY RATES

Mahoning is 68th in the state this week among 88 counties with 315.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 63rd last week with 279 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Mahoning was 54th two weeks ago with 234.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 48th three weeks ago with 230.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 47th four weeks ago with 213.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 29th five weeks ago with 255.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Trumbull is 71st in the state this week with 294 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 64th last week with 275.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull was 69th two weeks ago with 206.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 62nd three weeks ago with 198 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 54th four weeks ago with 202 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 42nd five weeks ago with 229.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Columbiana is 75th this week with 287.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 79th last week with 216.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana was 81st two weeks ago with 175.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 83rd three weeks ago with 148.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, also 83rd four weeks ago with 139.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 65th five weeks ago with 187.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

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.

The ODH’s Coronavirus Wastewater Monitoring Network also showed a 130 percent increase in COVID-19 levels at the Warren Pollution Control Department between June 21 and Sunday. The increase is considered “substantial” by the ODH. It is up 22.5 percent at the Youngstown Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is considered “steady” by the ODH.

Various state agencies and others collect wastewater samples to look for the presence of “gene copies / fragments of the virus that causes the disease,” according to the ODH.