The local death toll from COVID-19 continued to rise at a rapid rate Saturday as the federal prison in Coleman reported a significant number of cases of the fast-spreading virus among staff members.
There were 20 more COVID-19-related fatalities reported Saturday across the tri-county area – 13 in Marion County and seven in Lake County. They are among the 1,502 local deaths, the 30,339 in Florida and the 497,058 across the country.
On Saturday, 135 cases of the Coronavirus were reported at the Coleman federal prison, which sits on about 1,600 acres and as of 2010 was the largest correctional facility operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Those included 130 cases among staff members and five among inmates.
All told, Florida is reporting 1,863,707 cases – an increase of 7,280 from Friday to Saturday. Of those, 1,829,773 are residents. A total of 80,430 COVID-19 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 30,669 in correctional facilities. Across the state, there have been 30,339 deaths and 77,654 people have been hospitalized.
Locally, Marion County is reporting 26,933 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 101 in a 24-hour period. There have been 735 deaths and 1,681 people have been hospitalized.
Ocala continues to lead Marion County with 26,933 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 101 in a 24-hour period. Others have been identified in Summerfield (1,695), Dunnellon (1,225), Belleview (1,137), Silver Springs (546), Citra (457), Ocklawaha (417), Reddick (274), Fort McCoy (265), Anthony (258), Weirsdale (210), The Villages (177), Salt Springs (47), Flemington (34), McIntosh (28), Sparr (21), Orange Lake (21), Lowell (18), Candler (17), East Lake (9), Fairfield (8), Orange Springs (7) and Morriston (5).\
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 58,583 – increase of 251
- Deaths: 1,502
- Hospitalizations: 3,430
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 7,747 – increase of 33
- Deaths: 226
- Hospitalizations: 499
- Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (3,630), Wildwood (925), Bushnell (845), Coleman (825) and Oxford (442).
LAKE COUNTY
- Cases: 23,903 – increase of 117
- Deaths: 541
- Hospitalizations: 1,250
- Cities with most cases: Clermont (6,247), Leesburg (3,736), Eustis (2,126), Mount Dora (1,821) and Tavares (1,765).