Marion County saw 3,130 new positive COVID-19 cases in the past week.
The updated statistics were released as part of the Florida Department of Health weekly COVID-19 situation report for Friday, December 31 to Thursday, January 6.
During the week, the county averaged just over 447 new positive COVID-19 cases each day. The previous week (December 24 to December 30) saw an average of around 220 new cases each day.
This is the highest daily average of new cases since the week ending on Thursday, August 26, 2021.
Mark Lander, Department of Health in Marion County Administrator, said, “The increase this week shows the severity of the spread of the virus throughout our community, and the need for people to take protective measures.”
Vaccines were administered to 1,042 residents, an increase of 81 from the previous week. The report shows that around 62% of eligible residents, or 219,614, are currently vaccinated in Marion County. All residents ages 5 and older are considered eligible.
“It was encouraging to see the number of vaccines go back up this week. We encourage county residents to consider a COVID-19 vaccine, or a booster if you are eligible for that. The shots remain the most effective way to prevent a serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19 for those age 5 or older,” Lander said.
For more information on vaccine locations throughout Marion County, visit the Florida Department of Health vaccine locator webpage.
The Omicron variant was detected in the United States on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. According to Lander, the CDC remains the primary agency responsible for maintaining surveillance of Omicron, and the Department of Health in Marion County will respond to the variant as needed with mitigation efforts that include both prevention and treatment.
For more information on last week’s COVID-19 figures, visit the Florida Department of Health COVID-19 website.