On the day when the local area reported three more COVID-19 fatalities and 53 more deaths were recorded across the Sunshine State, the Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizer’s Coronavirus vaccine for children down to age 12.
Two of the latest local fatalities were in Marion County, while the third one was in Sumter County. They are among the 1,889 tri-county area deaths, the 36,498 in Florida and the 582,037 across the country, statistics provided by the Florida Department of Health and Johns Hopkins University show.
The popular two-dose vaccine was approved last December for teens 16 and up. The OK for giving the vaccination to younger children comes at a time when the United States is seeing a steady decline in people getting their first vaccine dose.
Earlier this month, Moderna said it’s vaccine was quite effective in an initial review of a clinical trial involving 3,000 teens. Johnson & Johnson, which recently through a halt because of blood clot issues in some females who received the vaccine, also has been testing its vaccine in children ages 12-17 years of age.
All told, Florida is reporting 2,272,102 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 2,296 from Sunday to Monday. Of those, 2,229,567 are residents. A total of 85,182 COVID-19 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 32,543 in correctional facilities. Across the state, there have been 36,498 deaths and 92,125 people have been hospitalized.
Locally, Lake County is reporting 29,885 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 29 in a 24-hour period. There have been 642 deaths and 1,541 people have been hospitalized. A total of 170,590 people have been vaccinated, with 138,497 receiving both doses.
Leesburg is now reporting 4,483 cases – an overnight increase of four. Others have been identified in Clermont (8,003), Eustis (2,613), Mount Dora (2,167), Groveland (2,066), Tavares (2,049), Lady Lake (1,719), Minneola (932), Sorrento (864), Fruitland Park (851), Umatilla (773), Mascotte (614), Grand Island (377), Montverde (364), Howey-in-the-Hills (224), Astatula (223), Altoona (202), The Villages (187), Paisley (167), Astor (115), Yalaha (83), Okahumpka (57), Mount Plymouth (13) and Ferndale (9).
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activity in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 70,522 – increase of 63
- Deaths: 1,889
- Hospitalizations: 4,301
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 9,356 – increase of 4
- Deaths: 279
- Hospitalizations: 579
- Vaccinations: 84,262 (72,977 both doses)
- Areas/cities with most cases: The Villages (4,265), Wildwood (1,093), Bushnell (1,040), Coleman (853) and Oxford (547).
MARION COUNTY
- Cases: 31,281 – increase of 30
- Deaths: 968
- Hospitalizations: 2,181
- Vaccinations: 138,324 (111,582 both doses)
- Cities with most cases: Ocala (22,874), Summerfield (1,934), Dunnellon (1,452), Belleview (1,374) and Silver Springs (688).
