After four straight weeks of modest decreases in the number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Ohioans, it increased by 5 percent this week.

Cases in Mahoning and Columbiana counties increased this week while cases in Trumbull went down.

There were 253.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the two-week period between June 16 and Wednesday compared to 241.2 cases per 100,000 last week, according to data provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health.

Ohio had 251.9 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 267.8 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 275.2 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 291.1 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.

The increase in Ohio this week came after four consecutive weeks of declines. Before that, there were eight weeks of increases and prior to that, 10 consecutive weeks of declines.

Of the state’s 88 counties, 87 had more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents and 61, including Mahoning, had more than 200 cases per 100,000 residents.

Eighty-seven counties were above 100 cases per 100,000 residents last week, 86 counties above that level two weeks ago, 85 three weeks ago, 83 four weeks ago and 81 five weeks ago. Just one was 11 weeks ago.

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

A total of 17,225 COVID-19 cases were reported in the last week as of Thursday. In comparison, there were 16,159 COVID-19 cases last week, 16,169 COVID-19 cases two weeks ago, 18,247 COVID-19 cases three weeks ago, 17,530 four weeks ago and 19,546 five weeks ago.

Also 74 new COVID-19 deaths were reported in Ohio since last Thursday.

The state’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate has declined from its Jan. 11 peak of 6,729 to 753 Thursday, according to Ohio Hospital Association statistics. It was 760 last week,763 two weeks ago, 749 three week ago, 753 four weeks ago and 687 five weeks ago.

VALLEY RATES

Mahoning is 48th in the state this week among the 88 counties with 230.9 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 47th last week with 213.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Mahoning was 29th two weeks ago with 255.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 14th three weeks ago with 301.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000, third four weeks ago with 366.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, and ninth five weeks ago with 354.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Trumbull is 62nd in the state this week with 198 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 54th last week with 202 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull was 42nd two weeks ago with 229.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 33rd three weeks ago with 256.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 24th four weeks ago with 275.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and tied for 25th five weeks ago with 278.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana is 83rd this week with 148.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was also 83rd last week with 139.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana was 65th two weeks ago with 187.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 59th three weeks ago with 205.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 38th four weeks ago with 239.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and tied with Trumbull for 25th five weeks ago with 278.8 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.