Morgan County sees COVID rate decrease
COVID numbers continue to climb statewide reaching 438.5 new cases
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Morgan County's new COVID-19 case rate went from one of the highest in the state to among the lowest, according to the latest statistics from the Ohio Department of Health.
Other area counties saw rates increase or remain fairly steady as statewide numbers continued their climb.
Among Ohio's smallest counties in terms of population, Morgan County had been in the top 20 based on new cases per 100,000 people over two-week periods for three consecutive weeks and six of the last seven. It posted the highest rate in the state, 468.7, on June 16, with 68 new cases reported among its 14,508 residents.
But from July 14-27, Morgan County recorded 48 new cases for a rate of 330.9, 76th out of Ohio's 88 counties. From July 7-20, 73 new cases gave it a rate of 503.2, 14th highest in the state.
With 380 new cases reported in its 65,327 residents, Athens County ranked 17th with a rate of 581.7 per 100,000. Although its rate rose from last week's 503.6 (329 new cases), Athens actually dropped from 13th in the state.
Washington County, population 59,911, was the next highest in the latest rankings, with 278 new cases for a rate of 464 per 100,000. That's up from 242 new cases and 403.9 per 100,000 in the previous span.
Monroe County was at 44th after seeing 61 new cases among its population of 13,654 for a rate of 446.8. A week earlier, the county recorded 62 new cases, and the rate of 454.1 ranked 28th.
Noble County saw six more cases (56, from 50) in the most recent two-week stretch, sending its rate from 346.6 to 388.2 per 100,000. But the county of 14,424 moved down in the rankings from 58th to 61st as other counties saw larger increases.
All five counties are now classified as "high" on the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID Community Levels scale. The CDC recommends people in those areas wear masks in indoor, public settings. Washington, Morgan and Noble counties were also high last week, while Athens and Monroe were set at medium.
The statewide rate climbed again, reaching 438.5 new cases per 100,000 from 391.4 the previous week. Gallia County, population 29,898, had the highest rate with 1,030.2 per 100,000.