Florida reported more than 4,700 new cases of COVID-19 and 22 more fatalities Sunday as the state geared up to offer vaccinations to adults of all ages.
Beginning Monday, adults age 18 and above are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines across the Sunshine state. Gov. Ron DeSantis made the announcement that he was removing the age eligibility requirements in late March after more than 3.2 million people age 65 and older – more than 70 percent of the Sunshine State’s seniors – had received doses of the coveted vaccinations.
As of Sunday, more than 6.2 million Floridians had been vaccinated – with more than 3.6 million having received both doses. Of those, 1,898,439 have been administered to seniors ages 65-74 years of age, followed by 1,284,975 in the 55-64 age group and 1,108,181 in the 75-84-year-old category.
In the tri-county area, 304,002 residents have been vaccinated. Of those, 196,530 have received both doses of the vaccine, Florida Department of Health statistics show.
All told, Florida is reporting 2,081,826 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 4,794 from Saturday to Sunday. Of those, 2,042,881 are residents. A total of 83,177 COVID-19 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 31,698 in correctional facilities. Across the state, there have been 34,328 deaths and 85,748 people have been hospitalized.
Locally, Lake County is reporting 26,983 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 59 in a 24-hour period. There have been 610 deaths and 1,421 people have been hospitalized.
Leesburg is now reporting 4,098 cases – an overnight increase of six. Others have been identified in Clermont (7,103), Eustis (2,374), Mount Dora (2,015), Tavares (1,906), Groveland (1,824), Lady Lake (1,612), Minneola (802), Sorrento (782), Fruitland Park (760), Umatilla (700), Mascotte (529), Grand Island (347), Montverde (325), Astatula (214), Howey-in-the-Hills (200), Altoona (190), The Villages (178), Paisley (139), Astor (104), 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: 65,111 – increase of 110
- Deaths: 1,797
- Hospitalizations: 3,965
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 8,868 – increase of 16
- Deaths: 261
- Hospitalizations: 561
- Vaccinations: 75,978 (54,577 both doses)
- Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (4,155), Wildwood (1,024), Bushnell (956), Coleman (844) and Oxford (507).
MARION COUNTY
- Cases: 29,260 – increase of 35
- Deaths: 926
- Hospitalizations: 1,983
- Vaccinations: 101,655 (64,349 both doses)
- Cities with most cases: Ocala (21,424), Summerfield (1,829), Dunnellon (1,343), Belleview (1,277) and Silver Springs (631).
