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Ohio's rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people slightly decreased in the latest statistics from the Department of Health, but local numbers mostly trended in the opposite direction.
The exception was Morgan County, which maintained the fourth-highest rate among Ohio's 88 counties, with 351.5 new cases per 100,000. With a population of 14,508, that equates to 51 new cases from May 26 to June 8, one less than the preceding period of May 19 to June 1.
Athens County, population 65,327, reported 178 new cases for a rate of 272.5, 23rd in the state. In the previous span, Athens had 164 new cases and its rate of 251 per 100,000 ranked 35th.
The biggest leap came in Noble County, which went from 73rd to 29th. But in a county of just 14,424 people, that was due to an increase of 17 cases, from 21 to 38, moving the rate from 145.6 to 263.4 per 100,000.
Noble County Health Department epidemiologist Alyssa Hosom said there hasn't been one particular area or outbreak noted.
"It really has been part of like the natural increase that we've seen in the whole southeastern Ohio region," she said. "As cases are going up everywhere, they're also going up here."
Seven cases pushed Monroe County from 60th to 36th. The county of 13,654 had 27 new cases from May 19th to June 1 and 34 from May 26 to June 8.
Washington County, population 59,911, recorded 88 new cases in the most recent period, up from 68 in the prior one. Its latest rate was 146.9 per 100,000, 81st in the state, compared to 113.5, which was 84th.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.