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DOH-Marion provides COVID-19 update (Jan. 13)

By Florida Department of Health in Marion County

January 13, 2021

 

OCALA, Fla.—The Department of Health in Marion County is continuing to schedule individuals who are 65 and up for COVID-19 vaccinations. Demand for the vaccine has been high. DOH-Marion received more than 50,000 registrations in its week of signups. In total, the department received the following amount of registrations on each day of signups:

  • Dec. 28, 2020: 9,309
  • Dec. 29, 2020: 21,614
  • Dec. 30, 2020: 7,857
  • Dec. 31, 2020: 3,271
  • Jan. 1, 2021: 2,191
  • Jan. 2, 2021: 1,937
  • Jan. 3, 2021: 1,475
  • Jan. 4, 2021: 2,462

“We are continuing to schedule the first 10,000 who registered with us,” said DOH-Marion Administrator Mark Lander. “We are currently able to distribute about 3,000 vaccines each week in combination with our partners.” 

Meanwhile, opportunities for people who are 65 and older to receive a COVID-19 vaccination continue to expand in Marion and surrounding counties. People who are interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccination are encouraged to sign up for the shot as additional vaccination opportunities become available in the region. 

“Ultimately, we want individuals to be able to get vaccinated as quickly as possible,” Lander said. “Being signed up with the health department doesn’t disqualify you from checking elsewhere for other available COVID-19 vaccination opportunities, and we encourage you to check all opportunities available to you.”

Reminder: Change in COVID-19 testing schedule effective next week

Starting next week, DOH-Marion will be at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion (2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala) one day a week for COVID-19 testing. Updated available test dates and times for the upcoming weeks are: 

  • Wednesday, Jan. 20 from 8 a.m. to noon
  • Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 8 a.m. to noon
  • Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 8 a.m. to noon
  • Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 8 a.m. to noon

Testing will not be available at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion the last two weeks of February due to a scheduling conflict.

People who would like to be tested can line their vehicles up starting 30 minutes prior to the testing start time. Testing will run until the end of the scheduled time or until the day’s available samples are all used, whichever comes first. To be tested, individuals should bring a valid photo ID; minors under age 18 will only be tested if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

People should be prepared to stay in their vehicles while awaiting testing; restroom facilities will not be available. Only people who are being tested should be in the vehicle, with the exception of parents, guardians or caregivers. No pets are permitted in the vehicle during tests. School students should refrain from eating or drinking anything 15 to 30 minutes prior to their tests.

Marion COVID-19 case update

Marion County is reporting 21,210 cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of this afternoon. This is an increase of 232 cases from yesterday (Jan. 12). Of Marion COVID-19 cases from Jan. 12, 12.05% tested positive. The daily positivity rate for all new COVID-19 cases in Florida on Jan. 12 was 10.17%.

From COVID-19 cases reported over the past seven days (cases reported Jan. 7 to Jan. 13), Marion saw an average of:

  • 287.3 new cases reported per day
  • 16.6% daily positivity rate
  • 3.6 COVID-19 related deaths reported per day

The week of Jan. 3 to Jan. 9, Marion County saw 1,859 new COVID-19 cases reported, its highest weekly total to-date. The previous high was the week of July 26 to Aug. 1 when there were 1,845 new cases reported. The cases from the previous high were linked to correctional facilities. The current high number of cases is not correctional-related.

Due to the high rate of COVID-19 currently being seen in the community, residents, parents and employees are reminded to follow precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. These include wearing a mask when outside your home and around others, practicing social distancing, staying home when sick, and regularly washing your hands, especially after being in public or around others. 

If you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test, you should not go to school or work. If you are told that you are a close contact to someone who recently tested positive for COVID-19, you will need to stay home for your quarantine period.

If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19, you are encouraged to notify anyone who may be a close contact to you. A close contact is anyone who spent a cumulative 15 minutes or longer within 6 feet of you while you were contagious. Remember, even if you are not experiencing symptoms, you are still capable of spreading the virus to others when you have the virus.

For more information on preventing the spread of COVID-19, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html.

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