On a day when four more local deaths were reported because of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that Florida leads the nation in cases of a variant of the virus that was first detected in the U.K this past September.

Three of the latest fatalities were residents of Lake County and the other one lived in Sumter County. They are among the 1,378 victims in the tri-county area, the 28,691 in Florida and the 470,600 across the country.

Florida now has 343 cases of the Coronavirus variant labeled as B.1.1.7., which is known to spread more easily and bypass treatments and immunities. That number, which increased significantly after large crowds – many not wearing masks – spilled into the streets of Tampa following the Buccaneers Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, represents 36.4 percent of the 944 cases reported across the country.

All told, Florida is reporting 1,798,280 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 7,537 from Tuesday to Wednesday. Of those, 1,765,659 are residents. A total of 78,832 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 30,202 in correctional facilities. Across the state, 75,162 people have been hospitalized.

Locally, Lake County is reporting 22,989 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 56 in a 24-hour period. There have been 492 deaths and 1,205 people have been hospitalized.

Leesburg is reporting 3,618 cases – an overnight increase of three. Others have been identified in Clermont (5,993), Eustis (2,051), Mount Dora (1,771), Tavares (1,689), Groveland (1,532), Lady Lake (1,359), Minneola (667), Sorrento (659), Fruitland Park (622), Umatilla (568), Mascotte (455), Grand Island (298), Montverde (287), Altoona (175), Astatula (170), Howey-in-the-Hills (169), The Villages (161), Paisley (111), Astor (88), Yalaha (64), Okahumpka (44), Mount Plymouth (11) and Ferndale (8).

Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:

TRI-COUNTY AREA

  • Cases: 56,283 – increase of 244
  • Deaths: 1,378
  • Hospitalizations: 3,271

SUMTER COUNTY

  • Cases: 7,476 – increase of 40
  • Deaths: 215
  • Hospitalizations: 457
  • Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (3,487), Wildwood (895), Bushnell (819), Coleman (818) and Oxford (434).

MARION COUNTY

  • Cases: 25,818 – increase of 148
  • Deaths: 671
  • Hospitalizations: 1,609
  • Cities with most cases: Ocala (19,068), Summerfield (1,624), Dunnellon (1,175), Belleview (1,089) and Silver Springs (498).