Five more local residents have succumbed to COVID-19 as the number of new cases across Florida dropped – possibly because testing sites closed for Christmas and some remained shut down over the weekend.
Three of the latest fatalities lived in Marion County and the other two were residents of Lake County. They are among the 862 deaths across the tri-county area, the 21,514 across the state and the 332,723 across the country.
All told, Florida is reporting 1,271,979 cases – an increase of 7,391 from Saturday to Sunday. Of those, 1,250,285 are residents. A total of 63,323 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 27,170 in correctional facilities. Across the state, there have been 21,514 deaths and 61,459 people have been hospitalized.
Locally, Lake County is reporting 14,723 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 96 in a 24-hour period. There have been 290 deaths 981 people have been hospitalized.
Leesburg is reporting 2,335 cases – an overnight increase of three. Others have been identified in Clermont (3,888), Eustis (1,199), Mount Dora (1,148), Tavares (1,127), Groveland (1,017), Lady Lake (809), Sorrento (404), Minneola (394), Fruitland Park (389), Mascotte (336), Umatilla (319), Montverde (195), Grand Island (172), Howey-in-the-Hills (120), Astatula (110), The Villages (95), Altoona (89), Paisley (60), Astor (57), Yalaha (42), Okahumpka (28), Ferndale (8) and Mount Plymouth (7).
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 36,536 – increase of 236
- Deaths: 862
- Hospitalizations: 2,659
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 4,783 – increase of 29
- Deaths: 118
- Hospitalizations: 374
- Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (1,940), Coleman (730), Wildwood (655), Bushnell (526) and Oxford (273).
MARION COUNTY
- Cases: 17,030 – increase of 111
- Deaths: 454
- Hospitalizations: 1,304
- Cities with most cases: Ocala (12,833), Summerfield (965), Dunnellon (730), Belleview (671) and Citra (294).
