61.6 F
Leesburg
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

7 more local COVID-19 deaths as state’s positivity rate climbs after spring break

Seven more local residents have succumbed to COVID-19 as new cases of the virus continued to be reported Wednesday across Florida and the positivity rate increased – possibly because of the recent influx of high school and college students from across the country celebrating spring break.

Florida’s positivity rate increased 6.89 percent to 6.95 percent following more than 83,000 tests being conducted Tuesday. Marion County also saw its seven-day positivity increase this week from 3.2 percent to 5.2 percent – an occurrence Mark Lander, director of the Department of Health in Marion County, told county commissioners on Tuesday was quite likely connected to spring breakers coming into the area. He also said that many residents appear to be getting tested at medical facilities and pharmacies, which has greatly reduced the number of people taking advantage of the county’s drive-through site at the Southeastern Pavilion.

Six of the latest fatalities were in Marion County and the other one was in Sumter County. They are among the 1,807 deaths in the tri-county area, the 34,476 across Florida and the 558,931 across the country, statistics from the Florida Department of Health and Johns Hopkins University show.

All told, Florida is reporting 2,096,747 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 5,885 from Tuesday to Wednesday. Of those, 2,057,359 are residents. A total of 83,327 COVID-19 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 31,729 in correctional facilities. Across the state, there have been 34,476 deaths and 86,292 people have been hospitalized.

Locally, Lake County is reporting 27,173 COVID-19 cases – an overnight increase of 92. There have been 611 deaths and 1,430 people have been hospitalized.

Leesburg is now reporting 4,124 cases – an overnight increase of 14. Others have been identified in Clermont (7,158), Eustis (2,387), Mount Dora (2,026), Tavares (1,914), Groveland (1,834), Lady Lake (1,620), Minneola (809), Sorrento (788), Fruitland Park (769), Umatilla (705), Mascotte (533), Grand Island (347), Montverde (328), Astatula (214), Howey-in-the-Hills (202), Altoona (191), The Villages (178), Paisley (147), Astor (104), Yalaha (79), Okahumpka (55), Mount Plymouth (13) and Ferndale (9).

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

TRI-COUNTY AREA

  • Cases: 65,455 – increase of 161
  • Deaths: 1,807
  • Hospitalizations: 3,998

SUMTER COUNTY

  • Cases: 8,909 – increase of 23
  • Deaths: 263
  • Hospitalizations: 563
  • Vaccinations: 76,539 (56,601 both doses)
  • Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (4,168), Wildwood (1,028), Bushnell (960), Coleman (844) and Oxford (509).

MARION COUNTY

  • Cases: 29,373 – increase of 46
  • Deaths: 933
  • Hospitalizations: 2,005
  • Vaccinations: 104,919 (67,477 both doses)
  • Cities with most cases: Ocala (21,496), Summerfield (1,834), Dunnellon (1,346), Belleview (1,290) and Silver Springs (635).

Most Popular

More articles

Lake County woman facing murder charge claimed to have premonitions

A Clermont woman was arrested on a charge of murder after allegedly shooting a man multiple times whilst acting strange and claiming to have premonitions.

Woman jailed after allegedly punching female student during dismissal at Leesburg High School

A Leesburg woman was arrested Wednesday for her involvement with allegedly battering a Leesburg High School student earlier this year.

Follow Us

12,988FansLike
145FollowersFollow
168FollowersFollow