Florida reported the biggest spike in COVID-19 cases since early March on Thursday as 71 more deaths were reported across the Sunshine State.
Two more local residents also lost their battle with the fast-spreading virus – one in Marion County and one in Lake County. They are among the 1,784 deaths reported in the tri-county area, the 34,143 in Florida and the 552,957 across the country.
All told, Florida is reporting 2,064,525 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 6,790 from Wednesday to Thursday. Of those, 2,026,083 are residents. A total of 83,047 COVID-19 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 31,615 in correctional facilities. Across the state, 85,373 people have been hospitalized.
Locally, Marion County is reporting 29,105 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 61 in a 24-hour period. There have been 920 deaths and 1,977 deaths.
Ocala continues to pace Marion County with 21,309 cases – an overnight increase of 41. Others have been identified in Summerfield (1,819), Dunnellon (1,332), Belleview (1,271), Silver Springs (624), Citra (482), Ocklawaha (477), Reddick (302), Fort McCoy (299), Anthony (275), Weirsdale (229), The Villages (182), Salt Springs (49), Flemington (34), McIntosh (30), Orange Lake (24), Sparr (22), Lowell (19), Candler (19), East Lake (11), Fairfield (8) and Orange Springs (8).
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 64,693 – increase of 180
- Deaths: 1,784
- Hospitalizations: 3,955
LAKE COUNTY
- Cases: 26,776 – increase of 97
- Deaths: 607
- Hospitalizations: 1,420
- Vaccinations: 121,641 (72,195 both doses)
- Cities with most cases: Clermont (7,042), Leesburg (4,077), Eustis (2,363), Mount Dora (1,998) and Tavares (1,895).
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 8,812 – increase of 22
- Deaths: 257
- Hospitalizations: 558
- Vaccinations: 74,717 (51,404 both doses)
- Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (4,137), Wildwood (1,016), Bushnell (950), Coleman (842) and Oxford (505).