Fourteen more local residents lost their battle with COVID-19 as the fast-spreading virus wreaked havoc on an Ocala long-term care center.

Thirteen of the latest fatalities were residents of Lake County and the other one lived in Marion County. They are among the 1,405 tri-county deaths, the 29,179 in Florida and the 483,648 across the country.

Avante at Ocala Inc. reported 26 COVID-19 cases on Saturday. Those were broken down as 20 residents who tested positive, one resident who tested positive and transferred out of the facility and five employees who tested positive.

All told, Florida is reporting 1,821,937 cases – an increase of 7,515 from Friday to Saturday. Of those, 1,788,827 are residents. A total of 79,568 COVID-19 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 30,336 in correctional facilities. Across the state, 75,991 people have been hospitalized.

Locally, Marion County is reporting 26,227 COVID-19 case – an increase of 116 in a 24-hour period. There have been 674 deaths and 1,624 people have been hospitalized.

Ocala continues to pace Marion County with 19,338 cases – an overnight increase of 74. Others have been identified in Summerfield (1,652), Dunnellon (1,194), Belleview (1,110), Silver Springs (511), Citra (440), Ocklawaha (405), Reddick (268), Fort McCoy (255), Anthony (243), Weirsdale (205), The Villages (176), Salt Springs (47), Flemington (34), McIntosh (27), Sparr (21), Orange Lake (21), Lowell (18), Candler (17), Fairfield (8), East Lake (8), Orange Springs (7) and Morriston (5).

Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:

TRI-COUNTY AREA

  • Cases: 57,149 – increase of 272
  • Deaths: 1,405
  • Hospitalizations: 3,319

LAKE COUNTY

  • Cases: 23,346 – increase of 131
  • Deaths: 516
  • Hospitalizations: 1,227
  • Cities with most cases: Clermont (6,091), Leesburg (3,663), Eustis (2,078), Mount Dora (1,788) and Tavares (1,717).

SUMTER COUNTY

  • Cases: 7,576 – increase of 25
  • Deaths: 215
  • Hospitalizations: 468
  • Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (3,540), Wildwood (903), Bushnell (832), Coleman (820) and Oxford (438).