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From staff reports
New COVID-19 case rates rose in most area counties, according to the latest statistics from the Ohio Department of Health.
Washington County was the exception, recording 175 new cases from June 23 to July 6 for a rate of 292.1 per 100,000 people, 33rd highest out of Ohio's 88 counties. The county of 59,911 residents saw 178 new cases from June 16-29, for a rate of 297.1, which ranked 19th.
Athens County, population 65,327, rose from 10th (368.9 per 100,000) to eighth (436.3) with 285 new cases, up from 241 in the preceding period.
An additional five cases in Noble County, from 42 to 47 among its 14,424 residents, pushed its rate from 291.2 per 100,000 to 325.8. However, Noble slipped from 21st among the state's counties to 22nd as other rates increased more.
After dropping to 33rd in last week's numbers, Morgan County climbed back to 20th. There were 48 new cases (330.9 per 100,000) over the last two weeks in the county of 14,508, compared to 37 (255 per 100,000) in the previous span.
Monroe County, population 13,654, had the lowest rate in the area again, although it moved from 65th (26 new cases, 190.4 per 100,000) to 55th (32 new cases, 234.4 per 100,000).
The state rate increased for the second week in a row, from 253.2 to 277.4 per 100,000. For the second consecutive week, Lawrence County had the highest rate in the state, this time at 640.7 per 100,000 in the county of 59,463.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID community levels, based on the number of new cases per 100,000 in the preceding seven days and hospital occupancy by COVID patients, were medium in each of the area counties, except for Morgan, where it was low.
The CDC recommends people at increased risk of serious illness consult with a health care provider about whether to wear a mask or take other precautions. There is no masking recommendation in counties labeled "low."