On the day when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention loosened COVID-19 travel guidelines for those who are fully vaccinated, five more local residents lost their battle with the deadly virus and Florida reported another spike in new cases.
Three of the latest local fatalities were in Marion County and the other two were in Lake County. They are among the 1,789 tri-county area deaths, the 34,239 in Florida and the 553,691 across the country, statistics from the Florida Department of Health and Johns Hopkins University show.
On Friday, the CDC announced that people who are fully vaccinated against the Coronavirus can travel without putting themselves at serious risk – if they continue to wear masks and follow other safety precautions.
The announcement came after the CDC determined there was a lower risk for travel for those have been vaccinated, but health officials remain concerned and say they aren’t recommending people take trips because the majority of the population across the country hasn’t been vaccinated and cases continue to rise on a daily basis.
All told, Florida is reporting 2,071,105 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 6,580 from Thursday to Friday. Of those, 2,032,387 are residents. A total of 83,109 COVID-19 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 31,657 in correctional facilities. Across the state, there have been 34,239 deaths and 85,538 people have been hospitalized.
Locally, Lake County is reporting 26,862 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 86 in a 24-hour period. There have been 609 deaths and 1,420 people have been hospitalized.
Leesburg is now reporting 4,085 cases – an overnight increase of eight. Others have been identified in Clermont (7,068), Eustis (2,368), Mount Dora (2,002), Tavares (1,897), Groveland (1,814), Lady Lake (1,607), Minneola (797), Sorrento (780), Fruitland Park (756), Umatilla (697), Mascotte (527), Grand Island (346), Montverde (324), Astatula (210), Howey-in-the-Hills (199), Altoona (190), The Villages (177), Paisley (138), Astor (103), Yalaha (78), Okahumpka (54), Mount Plymouth (13) and Ferndale (9).
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 64,858 – increase of 165
- Deaths: 1,789
- Hospitalizations: 3,958
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 8,827 – increase of 15
- Deaths: 257
- Hospitalizations: 559
- Vaccinations: 75,185 (53,116 both doses)
- Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (4,139), Wildwood (1,021), Bushnell (952), Coleman (842) and Oxford (506).
MARION COUNTY
- Cases: 29,169 – increase of 64
- Deaths: 923
- Hospitalizations: 1,979
- Vaccinations: 99,749 (61,795 both doses)
- Cities with most cases: Ocala (21,355), Summerfield (1,821), Dunnellon (1,337), Belleview (1,275) and Silver Springs (628).
