One more local resident has succumbed to COVID-19 as Florida surpassed 2.1 million cumulative cases of the virus and reported an increase Thursday of more than 7,900 new cases – a spike many believe could be the result of thousands of spring breakers recently visiting the Sunshine State.
The latest local fatality was a resident of Lake County. That death is among the 1,808 in the tri-county area, the 34,562 in Florida and the 559,965 across the country, according to statistics provided by the Florida Department of Health and Johns Hopkins University.
All told, Florida is reporting 2,104,686 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 7,939 from Wednesday to Thursday. Of those, 2,065,122 are residents. A total of 83,402 COVID-19 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 31,763 in correctional facilities. Across the state, 86,499 people have been hospitalized.
Locally, Lake County is reporting 27,321 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 148 in a 24-hour period. There have been 612 deaths and 1,446 people have been hospitalized.
Leesburg is now reporting 4,132 cases – an overnight increase of eight. Others have been identified in Clermont (7,205), Eustis (2,404), Mount Dora (2,039), Tavares (1,923), Groveland (1,847), Lady Lake (1,632), Minneola (815), Sorrento (790), Fruitland Park (771), Umatilla (706), Mascotte (535), Grand Island (348), Montverde (330), Astatula (216), Howey-in-the-Hills (203), Altoona (191), The Villages (178), Paisley (149), Astor (104), Yalaha (79), Okahumpka (56), Mount Plymouth (13) and Ferndale (9).
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 65,688 – increase of 233
- Deaths: 1,808
- Hospitalizations: 4,014
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 8,923 – increase of 14
- Deaths: 263
- Hospitalizations: 562
- Vaccinations: 76,790 (57,972 both doses)
- Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (4,169), Wildwood (1,032), Bushnell (965), Coleman (845) and Oxford (508).
MARION COUNTY
- Cases: 29,444 – increase of 71
- Deaths: 933
- Hospitalizations: 2,006
- Vaccinations: 106,668 (68,697 both doses)
- Cities with most cases: Ocala (21,554), Summerfield (1,836), Dunnellon (1,350), Belleview (1,292) and Silver Springs (636).
