An increase of nine new COVID-19 cases pushed Monroe County into the top 10 among Ohio counties with the highest rate per 100,000 people, according to the latest numbers from the state Department of Health.

With the second smallest population, 13,654, among Ohio’s 88 counties, it doesn’t take a large number of cases to shift Monroe County’s rate.

From Feb. 16 to March 1, the county reported 31 new cases for a rate of 227, sixth highest in the state. From Feb. 9-22, there were 22 new cases and the rate of 161.1 ranked 23rd.

Athens County, population 65,327, saw its new cases go from 143 to 112 and its rate per 100,000 drop from 218.9 (seventh) to 171.4 (19th).

Washington County also saw a decrease, with 53 new cases among its 59,911 residents in the latter period bringing its rate down to 88.5 per 100,000 (77th). In the prior span, there were 64 new cases and a rate of 106.8 (63rd).

Morgan and Noble counties reported more cases but still remained in the bottom 10 for the state in terms of case rate.

Morgan, population 14,508, reported 12 new cases for a rate of 82.7 per 100,000 (80th) after posting six and the lowest rate in the state, 41.4, in the previous two-week period.

Noble County, with 14,424 residents, stayed at 86th in both periods, with 10 new cases (69.3 per 100,000) most recently and seven (48.5) before that.

The statewide rate inched up for the fourth consecutive week, going from 135.4 per 100,000 to 135.9.

All five local counties remained low on the COVID Community Levels issued weekly by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC recommends people at increased risk of getting very sick from COVID talk with a health care provider about precautions like masking.

Those individuals are advised to wear a high-quality mask or respirator in indoor, public spaces in counties designated as medium. That guidance expands to everyone if a county is designated as high.

The levels are based on new cases per 100,000 people and hospitalization statistics for the previous seven days.