COVID-19 cases in Ohio are on the rise again.

Cases per 100,000 Ohioans in the state increased by 9.6 percent this week. It was the second week in a row of increases 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 counties increased this week.

There were 277.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the two-week period between June 23 and Wednesday compared with 253.2 cases per 100,000 the previous week, according to data provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health.

Ohio had 241.2 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 251.9 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 267.8 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 275.2 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.

For the third week in a row, 87 of the state’s 88 counties had more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents. Also, 69 counties, including Mahoning and Trumbull, had more than 200 cases per 100,000 residents.

Only one county reported more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents 12 weeks ago.

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

A total of 18,838 COVID-19 cases were reported in the last week as of Thursday.

In comparison, there were 17,225 COVID-19 cases last week, 16,159 COVID-19 cases two weeks ago, 16,169 COVID-19 cases three weeks ago, 18,247 COVID-19 cases four weeks ago and 17,530 five weeks ago.

There were also 68 new COVID-19 deaths reported in Ohio since last Thursday.

The state’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate has declined from its Jan. 11 peak of 6,729 to 858 Thursday, according to Ohio Hospital Association statistics. That’s the most COVID-19 hospitalizations for a day since March 4 with 898. Until Wednesday, when it spiked to 826 cases, the state’s hospitalization number had been below 800 COVID-19 hospitalizations daily since March 7.

VALLEY RATES

Mahoning is 54th in the state this week among the 88 counties with 234.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 48th last week with 230.9 cases per 100,000 residents.

Mahoning was 47th two weeks ago with 213.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 29th three weeks ago with 255.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 14th four weeks ago with 301.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 and third five weeks ago with 366.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Trumbull ranks 69th this week with 206.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 62nd last week with 198 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull was 54th two weeks ago with 202 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 42nd three weeks ago with 229.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 33rd four weeks ago with 256.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 24th five weeks ago with 275.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Columbiana is 81st this week with 175.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 83rd last week with 148.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana was also 83rd two weeks ago with 139.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 65th three weeks ago with 187.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 59th four weeks ago with 205.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 38th five weeks ago with 239.5 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.