Another three locals lost their battle with COVID-19 as the death toll in Florida continued to rise on Wednesday and three more cases of the potentially deadly virus were identified at The Villages Charter School.
All of the most recent deaths were Marion County residents. They are among the 1,733 deaths in the three counties, the 33 120 in Florida and the 537 583 across the country.
The three latest cases were identified at The Villages Charter School last week when the rest of Sumter County schools were in the spring break. This brings the total number of cases at the school that children of the developer family, employees of Villages and those who work in various businesses in the sprawling retirement community, to stand at 83 since classes began in August. The number also represents 45.1 percent of the 184 cases among students in all schools in Sumter County.
Overall, Florida reports 1,989,024 COVID-19 cases – an increase of 4,599 from Tuesday to Wednesday. Of these, 1,952,321 are residents. A total of 82 219 COVID-19 cases were reported in long-term care centers and 31 333 in correctional facilities. Across the state, 82,786 people were admitted to the hospital.
Locally, 44 new COVID-19 cases were reported in and around The Villages on Wednesday. These include:
- The Villages (Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties) rose 16 for a total of 4,363;
- Leesburg with 12 for a total of 3,951;
- Lady Lake at 7 for a total of 1,562;
- Summerfield 3 with a total of 1,775;
- Belleview at 3 for a total of 1,236;
- Oxford with 2 for a total of 479; and
- Wildwood is up 1 for a total of 980.
Below is a breakdown of other COVID-19 activities in the local area:
TRI-LAND AREA
- Business: 62,661 – increase of 153
- Deaths: 1,733
- Hospitalizations: 3,782
SUMMER PLANT
- Business: 8,422 – increase of 30
- Deaths: 242
- Hospitalizations: 531
- Vaccinations: 50 562 (31 688 both doses)
- Areas / cities with the most cases: The Villages (4 008), Wildwood (980), Bushnell (886), Coleman (838) and Oxford (479).
LAND OF THE MORE
- Business: 25,754 – increase of 76
- Deaths: 591
- Hospitalizations: 1,361
- Vaccinations: 93,438 (56,980 both doses)
- Cities with the most cases: Clermont (6,766), Leesburg (3,951), Eustis (2,268), Mount Dora (1,932) and Tavares (1,849). The Villages also reports 174 cases.
MARION COUNTY
- Business: 28,485 – increase of 47
- Deaths: 900
- Hospitalizations: 1,890
- Vaccinations: 75 010 (43 326 both doses)
- Cities with the most businesses: Ocala (20,886), Summerfield (1,775), Dunnellon (1,298), Belleview (1,236) and Silver Springs (604). The Villages also reports 181 cases.