Health

A free nutrition and physical education program for seniors over the age of 60 is beginning this week at the Belleview Community Center.

Multiple staff members with the Florida Department of Health in Marion County were recently recognized by a national public health membership group for the innovative ways that they responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MUV will soon be joining the list of medical marijuana dispensaries that operate in Ocala.

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital were recently recognized with an 'A' safety grade following The Leapfrog Group's spring evaluation of general hospitals across the country.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County and AdventHealth Ocala are seeking input from the community regarding the topic of health and wellness, and county residents along with local healthcare providers are encouraged to participate in a short survey.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County has reissued a health alert for the presence of dangerous blue-green algal toxins in Orange Lake, near McIntosh.

Kings Jamaican Jerk and BBQ Center in Ocala was temporarily closed last week after an inspector cited 14 health code violations, including the presence of rodent and roach activity.

A raccoon in Citra has tested positive for rabies. According to the Florida Department of Health in Marion County, anyone who lives or works in Citra should pay close attention, especially residents north of County Road 329, south of County Road 316, east of U.S. 441, and west of NE 47th Avenue.

The Florida Department of Health’s latest bi-weekly COVID-19 report shows that Marion County experienced a slight increase in cases for the second consecutive report with a daily average of just over 20 new infections.

The Florida Department of Health’s latest bi-weekly COVID-19 report shows that new infections have increased in Marion County for the first time since the middle of January.

The Florida Department of Health is responding to an outbreak of meningococcal disease in the state. The disease can be prevented and treated, and Marion County health officials are encouraging residents to consider vaccination.

On Monday, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital announced the appointment of Isaiah Zirkle as Chief Operating Officer for the hospital, effective immediately. He most recently served in the same role at HCA Healthcare’s West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in West Hills, California.

Health officials are reporting that COVID-19 cases in Marion County have dropped to the lowest levels recorded since June of 2021. Florida Department of Health in Marion County Administrator Mark Lander said, "This report is the best news our community has had with COVID-19 in quite some time. Hopefully, we have turned a corner with this virus."

During the last week, Marion County health officials reported the fewest number of positive COVID-19 cases since June 25, 2021.

Ocala Regional Medical Center and West Marion Community Hospital have new names after both hospitals recently joined other sites of care across Florida to unite under a shared brand.

Marion County health officials reported another decline in positive COVID-19 cases during the last week. Since the record-high spike that the county experienced in January, positive cases have plummeted by nearly 96%.

Marion County health officials have issued a Blue-Green Algae Boom Alert for Orange Lake. Residents and visitors are urged to be cautious in and around the lake.

Marion County commissioners have designated March of 2022 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It is estimated that there will be nearly 11,500 cases of colon and rectal cancer diagnosed in Florida in 2022, and over 4,100 people will die from these types of cancer.