AKRON, Ohio -- Summit County Public Health for the first time Thursday released a map showing the range of coronavirus cases in each ZIP code, with the highest numbers, between 21 and 30 cases, in the West Akron ZIP codes of 44313 and 44320, and in Hudson’s 44236 and Twinsburg’s 44087.

The map shows no cases reported in the downtown Akron and near-east side ZIP codes of 44308 and 44304, and in the northwest corner of the county, in 44141, 44286 and 44264 near Richfield, Boston, Boston Heights and Peninsula.

Health department officials had previously indicated they were hesitant to release ZIP-code-level data, citing issues of patient privacy and accurately conveying the spread of the disease due to limited testing.

The editorial board for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer has called for all health boards to break down cases by ZIP code to satisfy the public’s legitimate desire for detailed information.

Epidemiologist Joan Hall said earlier this month that the county health department might release the case counts for each ZIP code once the county’s total number of cases increased to about 300, which is when Cuyahoga County released its similar map.

Summit County Public Health on Thursday reported 311 cases, including 16 deaths.

Hall on Thursday reiterated some of her remarks from earlier this month, indicating certain variables that influence how people should interpret geographically specific data.

“Part of it is about the availability of testing,” Hall said during the department’s weekly news conference. “When you’re looking at those northern portions of the county, I think a lot of residents were able to go up to the Cleveland area and take advantage of the drive-thru testing that was available there, so you may have seen more cases diagnosed through the systems that were available there.”

Other factors, Hall said, include the locations of nursing homes where there have been outbreaks. For example, Ohio Living Rockynol nursing home - which has 28 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including seven deaths - is in the 44313 ZIP code, which is designated as having between 21 to 30 cases. While that single facility accounts for all or most of the cases in the ZIP code, someone viewing the map might mistakenly suspect a widespread outbreak in the area.

As far as the ZIP codes with no cases, Hall said the downtown Akron area of 44308 has a relatively small population, and 44304 is the University of Akron, where most students have left. The northwest part of Summit County also has a small population, Hall said.

Health Commissioner Donna Skoda said the ZIP code map on the department’s website is set to be updated each Thursday, but that frequency may increase as additional testing becomes available.

See also: African-Americans in Summit County disproportionately infected, killed by coronavirus, health department says