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Although new COVID-19 cases were trending down in September, it appears the numbers are again on the rise, according to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who expressed during his Thursday briefing the hope the trend won't last.
Although the average positivity rate for virus testing hovered under 3 percent, with an average of 2.6 percent, during most of September, the positivity rate has been "inching up" to around 4 percent.
DeWine said he hopes the increase isn't a trend, but a temporary fluctuation. Eleven counties in the state considered at the red level, the second highest risk level.
Locally, Mahoning County and Columbiana County are "orange," and Trumbull County is "yellow," the lowest level.
There are about 60 cases per 100,000 people in Mahoning County, according to the latest data from the Ohio Public Health Advisory System. Visits to emergency rooms in the county have increased since a daily average of two visits Sept. 9 to 7.86 a day Sept. 29. Intensive care unit occupancy was at 66 percent on Sept. 29.
In Trumbull County, about 37 cases per 100,000 people was reported. On Sept. 29, daily average emergency room visits in Trumbull County was 3.14, up from 1.29 on Sept. 9. ICU occupancy rates are similar to Mahoning County's.
Cases per 100,000 people in Columbiana County is similar to Trumbull County, about 37. Daily average emergency room visits are low, at less than one per day, and ICU occupancy rates also are at 66 percent.
Statewide,1,327 new cases were reported Thursday, bringing the total to 155,314. There were 13 new deaths statewide, bringing the total to 4,817. Most of the cases, 134,216, are presumed to be recovered, leaving 21,098 cases.
In Trumbull County, 18 new cases were noted, bringing the total to 1,949, with 132 deaths and 1,697 presumed recovered.
A total of 29 new cases were in Mahoning County, bringing the total to 3,155, with 282 deaths and 2,652 presumed recovered.
In Columbiana County, seven new cases were reported Thursday. Of the 1,966 cases, there have been 80 deaths and 1,822 recovered.
SCHOOL DATA
There were 11 new reported student cases and two new staff cases of COVID-19 in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumsbull dscounties from Sept. 21 through Sept. 26, according to the Ohio Department of Health on Thursday.
With seven new student cases and one new staff case, Champion Local Schools has the highest number of new cases in the tri-county region. Trumbull Career and Technical Center, which also is in Champion, reported one new student case during the reporting period. Newton Falls has one new staff case.
In Mahoning County, Western Reserve Local School District had one new student case. There is a single new student case in Columbiana County's Salem Public Schools and one new student case in the Beaver Local School District.
Incidents are reported by new cases reported in the most recent week and a cumulative total. The most recent week is defined as the previous Monday through Sunday, with updates provided weekly on Thursdays.
Champion Schools Superintendent John Grabowski on Thursday noted on the district's Facebook page the district had been notified of two additional positive cases. The students have been advised to quarantine and isolate, according to Ohio Department of Health guidelines.
Reporter Raymond L. Smith contributed to this report.
COVID-19 by the numbers
The number of cases, changes in cases and deaths in counties in the region and statewide as of Thursday:
County Cases Change since Change since Deaths
yesterday last week
Trumbull 1,949 +18 +73 132
Mahoning 3,155 +29 +125 282
Columbiana 1,966 +7 +42 80
Ohio 155,314 +1,327 +7,570 4,817
SOURCE: Ohio Department of Health