A Lake County resident has succumbed to the Coronavirus as Florida and the tri-county area continued to add new cases of the deadly virus at a rapid pace.
The Lake County victim was identified as an 82-year-old woman who hadn’t traveled recently. More specific information about where she lived wasn’t provided by the Florida Department of Health.
The tri-county area now has 1,028 COVID-19 cases among 558 men, 445 women, 23 non-residents and two listed as unknown. They range in age from 10-92, with an average age of 65. There have been 41 deaths and 173 people have been treated in area hospitals.
Marion County is now reporting 310 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 11 in a 24-hour period. They are comprised of 133 men, 171 women and six non-residents. They range in age from 6 months to 97, with an average age of 48. There have been eight deaths and 43 people have required hospital care.
The overwhelming majority of Marion County cases – 214 – have been reported in Ocala. Others have been identified in Summerfield (33), Dunnellon (14), Citra (10), Belleview (9), Ocklawaha (6), Anthony (3), Reddick (2), Silver Springs (2), The Villages (2) and Fort McCoy (1).
It’s unclear if any of the Summerfield patients are located in the retirement communities of Del Webb Spruce Creek, Stonecrest or Spruce Creek South, as that specific information isn’t released by the Florida Department of Health.
Lake County continues to lead the tri-county area with 452 cases – an increase of 69 in a 24-hour period – among 237 men, 198 women, 15 non-residents and two that are listed as unknown. They range in age from 1-103, with an average age of 48. There have been 16 deaths and 85 people have hospitalized.
Clermont leads the way in Lake County with 120 cases. Others have been identified in Tavares (80), Leesburg (50), Eustis (48), Mount Dora (24), Groveland (22), Lady Lake (19), Mascotte (14), The Villages (10), Minneola (8), Sorrento (8), Fruitland Park (6), Montverde (4), Howey-in-the-Hills (3), Altoona (2), Okahumpka (1), Umatilla (7), Grand Island (2), Astor (2), Paisley (1) and Yalaha (1).
The majority of new cases in Lake County can most likely be attributed to the jail, where 57 inmates had been identified with the virus by Friday. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office started testing inmates on June 4 after two female prisoners showed symptoms. Testing also followed for male inmates who were assigned to work crews after they began showing symptoms, according to Lt. John Herrell.
As of Friday, Herrell said, all 57 inmates who tested positive were asymptomatic and were under medical isolation. He said the jail staff is continuing to screen all new incoming inmates and will place anyone who becomes symptomatic into isolation and test them.
Sumter County continued to hold steady Saturday at 266 cases among 188 men, 76 women and two non-residents. They range in age from 10-92, with an average age of 65. There have been 17 deaths and 45 people have been seen in area hospitals.
Sixty-nine of the Sumter County cases have been reported in The Villages, with another 122 identified in Bushnell – all but one of which are at the Sumter Correctional Institution (105 inmates and 16 staff members). Other cases have been reported in Lake Panasoffkee (22), Oxford (19), Wildwood (9), Webster (8), Lady Lake portion of the county (6), Sumterville (5) and Coleman (4). The federal prison in Coleman also has identified six cases among four staff members and two inmates.
COVID-19 testing continues in all three counties. As of Saturday, those statistics showed:
- Marion County (18,414 tested, 18,098 negative, six inconclusive and 283 awaiting testing);
- Lake County (23,452 tested, 22,987 negative, 13 inconclusive and 10 awaiting testing); and
- Sumter County (5,620 tested, 5,349 negative, five inconclusive and 23 awaiting testing).
All told, Florida is reporting 73,552 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 2,581 in a 24-hour period. Of those, 71,589 are residents. There have been 2,925 deaths and 11,874 people have been hospitalized across the Sunshine State.