Florida is preparing to lower the age to 60 for those who wish to obtain the COVID-19 vaccines, but the number of deaths from the virus in the local area and in the state continues to increase.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Florida reported 32,481 COVID-19-related deaths – an increase of 132 in a 24-hour period. Nine of those deaths occurred in Marion County and are among 1,686 in the three counties area and 527,389 across the country, statistics from the Florida Department of Health and Johns Hopkins University show.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced this week that the eligibility age for COVID-19 vaccinations would drop to 60 on Monday, March 15. He also hinted that he could drop to 55 in the near future, depending on how many doses of vaccination the state receives in the coming weeks.
The governor said the decision to reduce the age requirement was the result of an ever-decreasing demand for the vaccine among the elderly in Florida. He said more than 2.6 million seniors – about 56% of the state’s elderly population – received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In all, Florida is reporting 1,952,733 cases – an increase of 4,426 Monday through Tuesday. Of these, 1,916,774 are residents. A total of 81,728 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in long-term care centers and 31,128 in correctional units. Across the state, 81,331 people were hospitalized.
Locally, 42 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Tuesday in and around The Villages. That includes:
- The Villages (Sumter, Lake and Marion counties) increased by 10 to a total of 4,265;
- Lady Lake increased by 11 to a total of 1,518;
- Leesburg rose 7 to a total of 3,887;
- Fruitland Park increases 4 to a total of 692;
- Belleview up to 4 for a total of 1,219;
- Wildwood won 2 for a total of 964;
- Oxford won 2 for a total of 466; and
- Summerfield won 2 for a total of 1,753.
Below is an analysis of other COVID-19 activities in the local area:
TRI-COUNTY AREA
- Cases: 61,626 – increase of 120
- Kills: 242
- Hospitalizations: 519
SUMTER COUNTY
- Cases: 8,227 – increase of 21
- Kills: 242
- Hospitalizations: 519
- Areas / cities with the most cases: The Villages (3,912), Wildwood (964), Bushnell (868), Coleman (831) and Oxford (466).
LAKE COUNTY
- Cases: 25,252 – increase of 60
- Kills: 577
- Hospitalizations: 1,328
- Cities with the most cases: Clermont (6,614), Leesburg (3,887), Eustis (2,228), Mount Dora (1,903) and Tavares (1,834). The Villages is also reporting 172 cases.
MARION COUNTY
- Cases: 28,147 – increase of 39
- Kills: 867
- Hospitalizations: 1,809
- Cities with the most cases: Ocala (20,663), Summerfield (1,753), Dunnellon (1,270), Belleview (1,219) and Silver Springs (599). The Villages is also reporting 181 cases.