With Floridians bracing for the impending spread of COVID-19 from the New Year’s weekend, the Sunshine State reported another record day in the number of new cases of the deadly virus.
All told, Florida reported 1,429,722 cumulative cases – an increase of 19,816 from Wednesday to Thursday. That marks the largest single-day increase in new cases since the pandemic first hit Florida in the spring.
Of those total number of cases, 1,404,374 are residents. A total of 64,706 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 27,659 in correctional facilities. Across the state, 64,704 people have been hospitalized.
Locally, a Marion County resident became the latest fatality connected to the fast-spreading virus. That victim joins the 949 local residents who have died from the virus, the 22,817 across the state and the 363,519 across the country.
On Thursday, a total of 19,585 COVID-19 cases were reported in Marion County – an increase of 386 in a 24-hour period. There have been 496 deaths and 1,393 people have been hospitalized.
Ocala continues to lead Marion County with 14,531 cases – an overnight increase of 260. Others have been identified in Summerfield (1,192), Dunnellon (869), Belleview (798), Citra (340), Silver Springs (340), Ocklawaha (292), Reddick (201), Fort McCoy (168), Anthony (160), Weirsdale (142), The Villages (59), Salt Springs (35), Flemington (34), McIntosh (19), Sparr (18), Orange Lake (17), Candler (14), Lowell (14), Morriston (6), Orange Springs (6), East Lake (6) and Fairfield (5).
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 42,533 – increase of 803
- Deaths: 949
- Hospitalizations: 2,805
LAKE COUNTY
- Cases: 17,228 – increase of 331
- Deaths: 331
- Hospitalizations: 1,020
- Cities with most cases: Clermont (4,539), Leesburg (2,765), Eustis (1,461), Mount Dora (1,316) and Tavares (1,280).
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 5,720 – increase of 86
- Deaths: 122
- Hospitalizations: 392
- Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (2,463), Coleman (775), Wildwood (736), Bushnell (621) and Oxford (338).