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The rate of COVID-19 in Ohio is at its lowest rate in eight months.
Thursday's report was the first weekly one from the Ohio Department of Health, which switched beginning Monday from daily to weekly reports as cases decline in the state.
The daily updates were provided for the past two years, dating back to March 2020 when the first COVID-19 cases were reported in Ohio. A total of 3,605 COVID-19 cases were reported in the last week as of Thursday.
There were 49.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the period between March 3 and Wednesday, compared to 70.4 cases per 100,000 last week, according to ODH data provided Thursday.
The state saw a 30 percent reduction in cases per 100,000 residents from last week.
It was the eighth consecutive week of declines after 11 straight weeks of increases.
Of the state's 88 counties, 79 of them are at low risk including Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
The rate hasn't been this low statewide since July 22, 2021,when 45.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents were reported by the ODH.
Ohio had 104.7 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 160.7 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 255.8 COVID-19 cases four weeks ago and 481 COVID-19 cases five weeks ago.
It hit a record high 2,154.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents eight weeks ago.
Also, the state's COVID-19 hospitalization rate has declined from its Jan. 11 peak of 6,729 to 536 Thursday, according to Ohio Hospital Association statistics. It hasn't been this low since last July 26 with 496 hospitalizations.
VALLEY RATES
The rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents again dropped in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. But Trumbull's rate was higher than the state average as the county experienced only a decline of 0.5 cases per 100,000.
Mahoning is 60th in the state this week among the 88 counties with 44.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.
It was 68th last week with 54.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.
Mahoning was 71st two weeks ago with 77.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 69th three weeks ago with 126.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, also 69th four weeks ago with 208.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 74th five weeks ago with 344.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.
Trumbull jumped all the way to 30th in the state this week with 59.1 cases per 100,000 residents.
Trumbull was 64th last week with 59.6 cases per 100,000 residents.
It was 69th two weeks ago with 79.8 cases per 100,000 residents, 72nd three weeks ago with 126.4 cases per 100,000 residents, 76th four weeks ago with 166.7 cases per 100,000 residents and 78th five weeks ago with 294.5 cases per 100,000.
Columbiana is 55th this week with 46.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.
It was 47th last week with 76.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.
Columbiana was 32nd two weeks ago with 132.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 41st three weeks ago with 185.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 49th four weeks with 278.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 65th five weeks ago with 442.7 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 would result in more-populous counties ranking higher.