Two employees at state prisons in Ocala have been identified with the Coronavirus.
The staff members work at Lowell Correctional Institution and Marion Correctional Institution, according to a report from the Florida Department of Corrections. No other information about those employees was available, but the report also says:
- 13 inmates tested negative at Lowell Correctional Institution, where eight other prisoners are being kept under security quarantine; and
- Five inmates tested negative at Marion Correctional Institution, where four others are being kept under security quarantine.
Overall, Marion County is reporting 286 cases – an increase of just two in a 24-hour period. Those include 120 men, 161 women and five non-residents. There have been eight deaths and 42 people have been seen in area hospitals.
The overwhelming majority of Marion County cases – 204 – have been reported in Ocala. That includes the newest patients – women ages 42 and 79, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Other Marion County cases have been reported in Summerfield (30), Dunnellon (13), Citra (10), Belleview (9), Ocklawaha (4), Anthony (3), Reddick (2), Silver Springs (2), The Villages (2) and Fort McCoy (1). It’s unclear if any of the Summerfield cases have been reported in the retirement communities of Del Webb Spruce Creek, Stonecrest and Spruce Creek South, as that specific information isn’t provided by the Florida Department of Health.
So far, 17,490 people have been tested for the Coronavirus in Marion County, with 17,198 coming back negative and six inconclusive. Another 206 people also are awaiting testing.
As of Wednesday, the tri-county area was reporting 893 COVID-19 cases –an increase of six in a 24-hour period. Those are comprised of 463 men, 408 women and 22 non-residents. There have been 40 deaths and 169 people have been hospitalized.
Sumter County increased by just one case on Wednesday to 265. Those are divided among 187 men, 76 women and two non-residents. There have been 17 deaths and 45 people have been hospitalized.
Sixty-nine of the Sumter County cases are in The Villages, with another 122 reported in Bushnell, all but one of which is at the Sumter Correctional Institution (105 inmates and 16 staff members). Other cases have been identified in Lake Panasoffkee (22), Oxford (19), Wildwood (9), Webster (8), Lady Lake portion of the county (6), Sumterville (5) and Coleman (3). The federal prison in Coleman also has identified six cases among four staff members and two inmates.
Lake County added three cases Wednesday for a total of 342 among 156 men, 171 women and 15 non-residents. There have been 15 deaths and 82 people have required some form of hospital care.
Of the Lake County cases, 105 have been reported in Clermont. Others are in Leesburg (48), Eustis (35), Tavares (23), Mount Dora (21), Groveland (19), Lady Lake (18), Mascotte (14), The Villages (9), Minneola (8), Fruitland Park (6), Sorrento (5), Montverde (4), Howey-in-the-Hills (3), Altoona (2), Okahumpka (1), Umatilla (2), Grand Island (1), Paisley (1) and Yalaha (1).
All told, Florida is reporting 67,371 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 1,371 in a 24-hour period. Of those, 65,779 are residents. There have been 2,801 deaths and 11,345 people have been hospitalized across the Sunshine State.