After three straight weeks of declines in the number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Ohioans, the number increased by 4.4 percent.

The number of cases per 100,000 is slightly higher than it was two weeks ago after a 4.1 percent decrease last week.

The three weeks of declines came after seven consecutive weeks of increases in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the state.

The total number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ohio remains above 1,000, but is seeing a decline.

Ohio had 1,091 COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Thursday, compared to 1,242 a week earlier, according to the Ohio Hospital Association.

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 377.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the two-week period between Aug. 18 and Wednesday compared to 361.4 cases per 100,000 last week, according to data provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health.

Trumbull County saw a decrease for the fourth straight week as did Mahoning, though the latter was by a tiny amount. Columbiana County’s case number went up for a second straight week. All of the local counties are below the state average.

The state also reported 84 COVID-19 deaths in the last week.

Ohio had 376.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 408.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 441.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 438.5 cases per 100,000 residents five weeks ago.

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

Of the state’s 88 counties, all had more than 200 cases per 100,000 residents and 77 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 25,280 COVID-19 cases were reported in Ohio in the last week as of Thursday. There were 23,436 COVID-19 cases reported last week, 24,067 COVID-19 cases two weeks ago, 26,016 COVID-19 cases reported three weeks ago, 27,785 COVID-19 cases four weeks ago and 29,876 COVID-19 cases five weeks ago.

VALLEY RATES

Mahoning is 51st in the state this week among the 88 counties with 361.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 56th last week with 361.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Mahoning was 55th two weeks ago with 371.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 49th three weeks ago with 426.4 COVID-10 cases per 100,000 residents, 34th four weeks ago with 486.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 51st five weeks ago with 413.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Trumbull is 69th in the state this week with 322.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 63rd last week with 337.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull was 59th two weeks ago with 358.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 60th three weeks ago with 408.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 51st four weeks ago with 451.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 55th five weeks ago with 406.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana is 53rd in the state this week with 360.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was also 53rd last week with 355.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana was 70th two weeks ago with 330.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 65th three weeks ago with 385.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, also 65th four weeks ago with 397.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 71st four weeks ago with 349.4 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.