From staff reports

The two-week average of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Ohioans dropped below triple digits this week for the first time in more than seven months.

From Feb. 24 to March 9, the state recorded 70.4 new cases per 100,000 people, according to statistics released Thursday afternoon by the Ohio Department of Health. That’s down from 104.7 from Feb. 17 to March 2 and the lowest since 45.8 from July 8-21.

Washington, Athens, Monroe, Morgan and Noble counties all saw their individual new case totals drop over the most recent period.

Washington County recorded 58 new cases in the latest span, for a rate of 96.8 per 100,000, which ranked 26th highest out of Ohio’s 88 counties. In the previous period, the county of 59,911 residents ranked 21st with a rate of 166.9 on 100 new cases.

Athens County, population 65,327, had the highest rate in the area with 188.3 per 100,000, based on 123 new cases in the last two weeks.

That was eighth in the state after being ninth last week, with 169 new cases for a rate of 258.7.

Morgan County was next, after going from 45 new cases among its 14,508 residents to 25. The rate decreased from 310.2 per 100,000 (seventh in the state) to 172.3 (ninth).

There were 20 new cases in Monroe County, population 13,654, in the most recent period for a rate of 146.5 per 100,000, 11th in the state. For the prior time frame, the county had 32 new cases and a rate of 234.4, 10th.

Noble County had the lowest total number of new cases, with 17 among its 14,424 inhabitants. It remained 14th in the state, even though its rate dropped from 194.1 (with 28 cases) to 117.9.

After five weeks, Lawrence County, population 59,463, no longer has the highest rate in Ohio. It moved to third (167 new cases, 280.8 per 100,000), while Gallia County was at the top with a rate of 314.4 per 100,000. That’s 94 new cases among its 29,898 residents.