Florida is preparing to drop the age of 60 for those who want to get COVID-19 vaccines, but the death toll from the virus in the local area and the state is still rising.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Florida reports 32,481 COVID-19 deaths – an increase of 132 over a 24-hour period. Nine of the deaths were in Marion County and are among the 1,866 in the three-county area and the 527,389 across the country.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced this week that the admission age for COVID-19 vaccinations would drop to 60 on Monday, March 15th. He also indicated that it could drop to 55 in the near future, depending on how many doses of the vaccine the state receives. in the coming weeks.
The governor said the decision to lower the age requirement is the result of a mitigating demand for the vaccine among seniors in Florida. He said more than 2.6 million elderly people – about 56 percent of the state’s senior population – had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
In total, Florida reports 1,952,733 cases – an increase of 4,426 from Monday to Tuesday. Of these, 1,916,774 are residents. A total of 81 728 COVID-19 cases were reported in long-term care centers and 31 128 in correctional facilities. Across the state, 81,331 people were hospitalized.
Locally, 42 new COVID-19 cases were reported in and around The Villages on Tuesday. These include:
- The Villages (Sumter, Lake and Marion counties) are up by 10 for a total of 4,265;
- Lady Lake 11 up for a total of 1,518;
- Leesburg with 7 for a total of 3,877;
- Fruitland Park with 4 for a total of 692;
- Belleview at 4 for a total of 1,219;
- Wildwood at 2 for a total of 964;
- Oxford at 2 for a total of 466; and
- Summerfield with 2 for a total of 1,753.
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activities in the local area:
TRI-LAND AREA
- Business: 61,626 – increase of 120
- Deaths: 242
- Hospitalizations: 519
SUMMER PLANT
- Business: 8,227 – increase of 21
- Deaths: 242
- Hospitalizations: 519
- Areas / cities with the most cases: The Villages (3,912), Wildwood (964), Bushnell (868), Coleman (831) and Oxford (466).
PLAATSMER
- Business: 25,252 – increase of 60
- Deaths: 577
- Hospitalizations: 1 328
- Cities with the most cases: Clermont (6,614), Leesburg (3,877), Eustis (2,228), Mount Dora (1,903) and Tavares (1,834). The Villages also reports 172 cases.
MARION COUNTY
- Business: 28,147 – increase of 39
- Deaths: 867
- Hospitalizations: 1,809
- Cities with the most business: Ocala (20,663), Summerfield (1,753), Dunnellon (1,270), Belleview (1,219) and Silver Springs (599). The Villages also reports 181 cases.