COVID-19 cases rising in Ohio | News, Sports, Jobs

The number of COVID-19 cases in Ohio went up for the third consecutive week the rise of the stealth omicron variant being the reason.

The state saw a 44 percent increase this week in cases per 100,000 residents from last week.

After 10 consecutive weeks of declines, this was the third week in a row to see an increase in COVID-19 case numbers in the state. Before those declines, there were 11 straight weeks of increases.

The state and country are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases recently because of BA.2 omicron, also known as stealth omicron.

There were 81.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Ohio residents for the period between April 7 and Wednesday compared to 56.6 cases per 100,000 last week, according to data provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health.

The cases per 100,000 is the highest number for Ohio since Feb. 21.

Ohio had 41.3 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 37.2 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 41.2 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 49.4 cases per 100,000 residents five weeks ago.

It hit a record-high 2,154.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents 13 weeks ago.

Of the state’s 88 counties, 10 were at high risk this week compared to one last week, according to the ODH.

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

A total of 6,890 COVID-19 cases were reported in the last week as of Thursday. In comparison, 4,808 cases were reported last week, 3,828 cases two weeks ago and 3,103 cases three weeks ago.

Also, 94 COVID-19 deaths in the state were reported in the last week as of Thursday.

The state’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate has declined from its Jan. 11 peak of 6,729 to 311 Thursday, according to Ohio Hospital Association statistics.

VALLEY RATES

The rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents this week increased in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

Mahoning is 30th in the state this week among the 88 counties with 63.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 46th last week with 39.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Mahoning was 28th two weeks ago with 39.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 38th three weeks ago with 35 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 54th four weeks ago with 34.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 60th five weeks ago with 44.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Trumbull is 25th in the state this week with 66.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 26th last week with 54 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull was 21st two weeks ago with 45.5 cases per 100,000 residents, 29th three weeks ago with 39.9 cases per 100,000 residents, 22nd four weeks ago with 50 cases per 100,000 residents and 30th five weeks ago with 59.1 cases per 100,000.

Columbiana is 37th this week with 57.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. It was 64th last week with 29.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana was 59th two weeks ago with 26.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 50th three weeks ago with 31.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 29th four weeks ago with 46.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 55th five weeks ago with 46.1 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.