Two more local residents have lost the battle against COVID-19 as new cases of the deadly virus continue to pop up across Ocala and surrounding communities.
Both of the latest fatalities were Marion County residents. They were identified Thursday by the Florida Department of Health as a 67-year-old woman who tested positive Oct. 7 and a 62-year-old man who tested positive Oct. 27.
A total of 13,462 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Marion County – an increase of 182 in a 24-hour period. There have been 384 deaths and 1,182 people hospitalized.
Those cases have been identified in Ocala (10,424), Summerfield (629), Dunnellon (532), Belleview (518), Citra (233), Silver Springs (225), Ocklawaha (187), Reddick (120), Fort McCoy (104), Weirsdale (95), Anthony (92), The Villages (57), Flemington (34), Salt Springs (23), Orange Lake (13), Candler (12), Sparr (10), McIntosh (10), Lowell (8), Morriston (6), East Lake (5), Orange Springs (3) and Fairfield (2).
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 27,963 – increase of 339
- Deaths: 740
- Hospitalizations: 2,380
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 3,602 – increase of 67
- Deaths: 98
- Hospitalizations: 329
- Other areas/cities with cases: Coleman (725), Bushnell (447), Webster (140), Lake Panasoffkee (116), Center Hill (78) and Sumterville (71).
LAKE COUNTY
- Cases: 10,899 – increase of 90
- Deaths: 258
- Hospitalizations: 869
- Cities with most cases: Clermont (2,891), Leesburg (1,807), Tavares (950), Eustis (916) and Mount Dora (854). The Villages is reporting 62 cases.
All told, Florida is reporting 1,029,030 cases – an increase of 10,870 from Wednesday to Thursday. Of those, 1,012,456 are residents. A total of 57,114 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 25,829 in correctional facilities. Across the state, there have been 19,112 deaths and 55,820 people have been hospitalized.