From staff reports
New COVID-19 cases in Monroe County almost doubled over the last two weeks but regional counties’ case rates remain in the bottom half of Ohio’s 88 counties, according to data reported by the Ohio Department of Health.
Data reported on Thursday for Dec. 8-21 showed a 15-case increase in Monroe County, population 13,654, which brought the total to 32 and a rate of 234.4 per 100,000 people, which ranks 60th in the state. From Dec. 1-14, Monroe reported 17 new cases with a rate of 124.5, which was 85th.
Athens County reached 146 cases, a 14-case increase from the previous period, for a rate of 223.5 per 100,000, which was 65th in the state. In the earlier span, the county of 65,327 had 132 new cases and a rate of 202.1 (69th).
A county of 14,508, Morgan County reported 35 new cases within the past week, its rate climbing to 241.2 per 100,000, 55th in the state. Previously, there were 30 new cases and the rate of 206.8 ranked 66th.
Washington County, with over 59,911 residents, had 90 positive cases, up from 74 in the previous report.
The rate moved from 123.5 per 100,000 (86th) to 150.2 (84th).
Ranked 85th in the state was Noble County with a rate of 145.6 per 100,000 on 21 cases among its 14,424 residents. In the earlier span, Noble County saw 14 new cases and a rate of 97.1, the second lowest in the state.
The statewide averaged increased to 267.8 cases per 100,000 residents from 249.6.
Area counties did not move on the COVID Community Levels measure released weekly by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Monroe and Washington counties remained medium, in which the CDC recommends people at greater risk of serious illness talk with a health care provider about taking precautions such as wearing masks indoors.
Athens, Morgan and Noble stayed on low, in which the CDC recommends people keep up to date on vaccinations and get tested if they develop COVID symptoms.
Under a high designation, the CDC recommends wearing masks in indoor, public spaces.
Pleasants County in West Virginia moved to that level, according to the latest rankings, based on new cases per 100,000 people and hospitalization statistics for the preceding seven days.
