COVID-19 claimed seven more local residents while Florida reported another big increase in cases of the deadly virus on Thursday.
Five of the latest fatalities occurred in Marion County, with one in each of Sumter and Lake County. They are among 989 deaths in three counties, 23,981 in Florida and 386,996 across the country.
In all, Florida is reporting 1,531,192 cases – an increase from 13,720 from Wednesday to Thursday. Of these, 1,503,529 are residents. A total of 70,238 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 28,073 in correctional facilities. Across the state, 67,036 people were hospitalized.
Locally, a total of 112 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Thursday in and around The Villages. That includes:
- The Villages (Sumter, Lake and Marion counties) increased by 28 to a total of 2,961;
- Leesburg rose 28 to a total of 3,023;
- Summerfield increased 18 to a total of 1,315;
- Belleview up to 9 for a total of 893;
- Lady Lake increased 8 to a total of 1,087;
- Wildwood won 4 for a total of 774;
- Fruitland Park increases 4 to a total of 499; and
- Oxford won 2 for a total of 366.
Below is an analysis of other COVID-19 activities in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 46,381 – increase of 469
- Kills: 989
- Hospitalizations: 2,922
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 6,214 – increase of 49
- Kills: 125
- Hospitalizations: 416
- Areas / cities with the most cases: The Villages (2,781), Coleman (783), Wildwood (774), Bushnell (665) and Oxford (366).
LAKE COUNTY
- Cases: 18,753 – increase of 216
- Kills: 339
- Hospitalizations: 1,073
- Cities with most cases: Clermont (4,910), Leesburg (3,023), Eustis (1,630), Mount Dora (1,415) and Tavares (1,382). The Villages is also reporting 119 cases.
MARION COUNTY
- Cases: 21,414 – increase of 204
- Kills: 525
- Hospitalizations: 1,433
- Cities with more cases: Ocala (15,782), Summerfield (1,315), Dunnellon (952), Belleview (893) and Citra (376). The Villages is also reporting 61 cases.