After seven straight weeks of increases in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Ohioans, the number dropped 7.5 percent this week.

But the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remains at its highest level since late February.

There were 1,313 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ohio as of Thursday, 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.

As the state exceeded 3 million total COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, cases per 100,000 declined this week.

There were 408.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the two-week period between July 28 and Wednesday compared to 441.6 cases per 100,000 last week, according to data provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health.

Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties also saw decreases this week.

Also 87 COVID-19 deaths were reported in the state in the past week.

Before this week, there were seven consecutive weeks of increases in cases per 100,000 Ohioans, which came after four straight weeks of modest decreases. Before that, there were eight weeks of increases and prior to that, 10 consecutive weeks of declines.

Ohio had 438.5 cases per 100,000 residents two weeks ago, 391.4 cases per 100,000 residents three weeks ago, 334.1 cases per 100,000 residents four weeks ago and 277.4 cases per 100,000 residents five weeks ago.

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

Of the state’s 88 counties, 87 had more than 200 cases per 100,000 residents, and 78 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 26,016 COVID-19 cases were reported in the last week as of Thursday. There were 27,785 COVID-19 cases last week, 29,876 COVID-19 cases two weeks ago, 26,610 COVID-19 cases three weeks ago, 24,465 COVID-19 cases four weeks ago and 18,838 COVID-19 cases five weeks ago.

VALLEY RATES

Mahoning is 49th in the state this week among 88 counties with 426.4 COVID-10 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 34th last week with 486.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Mahoning was 51st two weeks ago with 413.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 68th three weeks ago with 315.3 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 63rd four weeks ago with 279 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 54th five weeks ago with 234.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Trumbull is 60th in the state this week with 408.1 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 51st last week with 451.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Trumbull was 55th two weeks ago with 406.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 71st three weeks ago with 294 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 64th four weeks ago with 275.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 69th five weeks ago with 206.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

Columbiana is 65th this week with 385.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

It was 65th last week with 397.5 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

Columbiana was 71st two weeks ago with 349.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 75th three weeks ago with 287.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, 79th four weeks ago with 216.9 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and 81st five weeks ago with 175.7 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 likely would result in more-populous counties ranking higher.