The deadly COVID-19 virus continues to ravage Marion County.
As of Tuesday, 1,157 cases had been reported in Ocala, which marks 65.2 percent of the 1,774 cases in Marion County. There have been 15 deaths and 174 people have been hospitalized throughout the county.
Summerfield is now reporting 115 cases, while Belleview stands at 97. Other cases have been identified in Dunnellon (77), Citra (28), Silver Springs (24), Ocklawaha (19), Reddick (16), Weirsdale (11), Anthony (11), Candler (3), Fort McCoy (3), East Lake (3), The Villages (2) and Orange Lake (1).
The tri-county area is now reporting 5,238 Coronavirus cases – an increase of 272 from Monday to Tuesday. There have been 60 deaths and 411 people have been hospitalized.
Lake County continues to lead the local area with 2,783 cases – an increase of 138 in a 24-hour period. There have been 27 deaths and 152 people have been seen in area hospitals.
Clermont continues to pace Lake County with 718 cases – an increase of 40 – followed by Tavares with 416. Of those, 170 are at the Lake County Jail among 138 inmates, 30 staff members and two contracted nurses. Other cases have been identified in Eustis (251), Groveland (187), Mount Dora (186), Mascotte (96), Lady Lake (87), Minneola (79), Sorrento (69), Fruitland Park (46), Montverde (47), Umatilla (44), Grand Island (25), Howey-in-the-Hills (19), Astor (17), The Villages (16), Yalaha (13), Astatula (12), Okahumpka (11), Paisley (9), Altoona (7), Mount Plymouth (2) and Ferndale (2).
Sumter County added two cases for a total of 681. There have been 18 deaths and 85 people hospitalized in the county that contains the vast majority of Villages homes.
The Villages continues to lead Sumter County with 256 cases, followed by Bushnell with 162 – 123 of which are at the Sumter Correctional Institution among 103 inmates and 20 staff members. Other cases have been identified in Wildwood (83), Oxford (41), Lake Panasoffkee (32), Webster (25), Center Hill (21), Coleman (20), Lady Lake portion of the county (11) and Sumterville (10). The federal prison in Coleman also is reporting 114 cases among 87 inmates and 27 staff members.
All told, Florida is reporting 291,629 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 9,194 in a 24-hour period. Of those, 287,789 are residents. There have been 4,514 deaths and 18,881 people have been hospitalized across the Sunshine State. Those numbers show 133 more deaths since Monday and an additional 383 people requiring hospital care.