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COVID rates decrease in local counties, Ohio

Noble County posted one of the highest rates of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio as the statewide average continued to drop, according to the latest statistics from the Ohio Department of Health.

With 54 new cases reported among its 14,424 residents from Sept. 15-28, Noble County’s rate of 374.4 per 100,000 was third highest in the state. It moved up from 10th for the period of Sept. 8-21, even though it recorded 60 new cases and a rate of 416 per 100,000 during that span.

Athens County had the highest rate in the area at that point, with 491.4 per 100,000 based on 321 cases among a population of 65,327. For the most recent span, Athens posted 193 new cases and a rate of 295.4, ninth out of Ohio’s 88 counties.

Monroe County, population 13,654, saw a slight reduction in cases but a higher rank for its rate. In the last two weeks, there were 29 new cases reported for a rate of 212.4 per 100,000, 35th in the state. For the earlier period, there were 36 new cases and the rate of 263.7 ranked 48th.

New cases in Washington County, population 59,911, dropped from 170 to 117 and the rate from 283.8 (39th) to 195.3 (49th).

Morgan County had 28 new cases among its 14,508 residents, and its rate of 193 per 100,000 was 53rd.

In the earlier two-week period, the county posted 46 new cases with a rate of 317.1, 23rd in the state.

Ohio’s average rate of new cases per 100,000 people was 194.7 over the last two weeks. In the previous stretch, the rate was 257.7.

Both Monroe and Morgan counties were classified as “low” on the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly COVID Community Levels, which take into account new cases per 100,000 people and hospitalization statistics for the preceding seven days. The only recommendations for residents in counties designated low are to keep up with vaccinations and boosters and test for COVID if symptoms develop.

While Monroe County was also low last week, Morgan had been “high,” in which the CDC recommends people utilize masks in indoor public spaces.

Athens, Noble and Washington counties were labeled “medium” this week, where the CDC says people at greater risk for severe illness should consult with their health care provider about masking and other precautions. That’s the same level Washington and Noble were at last week, while Athens had been high.

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