For the fifth straight week, the number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 increased.

In just the past three weeks, cases in Ohio have increased by 58 percent and have hit levels not seen since in more than five months.

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

There were 438.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the two-week period between July 14 and Wednesday compared to 391.4 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.

Cases in the state increased by 12 percent compared to last week.

Local counties saw significant increases this week. The rate was up 38.3 percent in Trumbull, 31.2 percent in Mahoning and 21.7 percent in Columbiana.

COVID-19 hospitalizations were at 1,170 Thursday, according to Ohio Hospital Association statistics. It’s been more than 1,000 daily for 15 straight days. Before July 14, it last reached 1,000 on March 3.

Fifty-four COVID-19 deaths were reported by the ODH since last week.

VALLEY RATES

Mahoning is 51st in the state this week among 88 counties with 413.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 68th last week with 315.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull is 55th in the state this week with 406.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 71st last week with 294 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana is 71st this week with 349.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 75th last week with 287.6 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.