One more local resident has succumbed to COVID-19 as Florida surpassed 2.1 million cumulative cases of the virus and reported an increase Thursday of more than 7,900 new cases – a spike many believe could be the result of thousands of spring breakers recently visiting the Sunshine State.
The latest local fatality was a resident of Lake County. That death is among the 1,808 in the tri-county area, the 34,562 in Florida and the 559,965 across the country, according to statistics provided by the Florida Department of Health and Johns Hopkins University.
All told, Florida is reporting 2,104,686 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 7,939 from Wednesday to Thursday. Of those, 2,065,122 are residents. A total of 83,402 COVID-19 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 31,763 in correctional facilities. Across the state, there have been 34,562 deaths and 86,499 people have been hospitalized.
Locally, Marion County is reporting 29,444 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 71 in a 24-hour period. There have been 933 deaths and 2,006 people have been hospitalized.
Ocala continues to pace Marion County with 21,554 cases – an overnight increase of 58. Others have been identified in Summerfield (1,836), Dunnellon (1,350), Belleview (1,292), Silver Springs (636), Citra (482), Ocklawaha (482), Fort McCoy (304), Reddick (302), Anthony (276), Weirsdale (236), The Villages (183), Salt Springs (49), Flemington (34), McIntosh (30), Orange Lake (25), Sparr (23), Lowell (19), Candler (19), East Lake (12), Fairfield (8) and Orange Springs (8).
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 65,688 – increase of 233
- Deaths: 1,808
- Hospitalizations: 4,014
LAKE COUNTY
- Cases: 27,321 – increase of 148
- Deaths: 612
- Hospitalizations: 1,446
- Vaccinations: 133,097 (82,637 both doses)
- Cities with most cases: Clermont (7,205), Leesburg (4,132), Eustis (2,404), Mount Dora (2,039) and Tavares (1,923).
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 8,923 – increase of 14
- Deaths: 263
- Hospitalizations: 562
- Vaccinations: 76,790 (57,972 both doses)
- Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (4,169), Wildwood (1,032), Bushnell (965), Coleman (845) and Oxford (508).