After several days of declining, the number of coronavirus cases across Ohio and in the Mahoning Valley showed a modest uptick on Thursday. 

Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of the virus increased by 533 to 14,142. When using the CDC's expanded definition of confirmed cases, which also includes those who got quick tests outside of a lab and those who are showing symptoms and are known contacts of confirmed cases, the number goes up to 14,694. 

While the increase is larger than in recent days, is still represents a much smaller number of new cases per day than over the weekend, when there were increases by more than 1,000 cases per day. 

According to a model by the Ohio State University that is often cited by Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health, the peak of cases in Ohio was expected to hit on April 19. 

At one point, estimates were that there could be as many as 10,000 new cases per day, but that was revised down to 1,600 per day after the state closed all nonessential businesses and banned mass gatherings, significantly slowing the spread of the disease. 

 

Locally, Trumbull county now has 272 cases of the coronavirus, with 22 deaths. 

Mahoning County health officials are reporting an additional five deaths caused by the coronavirus.

The death toll in the county increased to 62 as of Thursday morning.

There have been 664 confirmed cases and 220 hospitalizations since the virus outbreak struck the Valley.

Most of the deaths in Mahoning County have been patients aged 80 and over.

The median age of those confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 is 61.

The last three days have proven to be deadly in Columbiana County as health officials continue to monitor the effects of the coronavirus outbreak there.

The county health department reported on Thursday that another person has died as a result of COVID-19.

With deaths also reported on Tuesday and Wednesday, the total number of deaths due to the virus in the county has reached 17.

Four of those deaths include residents of long-term facilities. Six of those who died were inmates of the Elkton Federal Correctional Institution.

Ten more confirmed cases have been reported since Wednesday.  Seventeen of those people are long-term care residents.

The Bureau of Prisons is reporting that 58 Elton inmates and 48 staff members from the prison have tested positive.

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the Bureau of Prisons to identify at-risk prisoners and figure out if they can be released.