OCALA, Fla.— A 60-year-old male from Marion County passed away this week after earlier contracting COVID-19. He was an Ocala resident and had underlying health conditions. This is the sixth death related to COVID-19 in Marion County.

Marion County has reported 243 cumulative cases of COVID-19 to date. A total of 12,264 individuals have been tested for the virus in the county; of those, 12,020 tested negative. Individuals who tested positive for the virus have ranged in age from 6 months to 97. Marion’s positive test rate is 2.0%; Florida’s positive test rate is 5.5%.

For more detailed information on all Marion cases, view Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard.

Testing

The Department of Health in Marion County provides free COVID-19 testing for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. You do not need a doctor’s order to be tested. People who are experiencing symptoms and others considered “high risk” have priority for testing slots.

Testing is by appointment only; call the DOH-Marion COVID-19 Call Center at 352-644-2590 to be scheduled for a COVID-19 test. Testing is held at the Department of Health in Marion County’s Ocala office (1801 SE 32nd Ave.)

New local call center hours effective Monday, June 1

Starting June 1, the DOH-Marion COVID-19 Call Center will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can continue to call the state hotline (866-779-6121) 24/7 for COVID-19-related questions.

For more guidance

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Florida, visit floridahealthcovid19.gov. For general questions about COVID-19, call the state hotline (866-779-6121), local hotline (352-644-2590), or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov. Individuals can also follow the Department of Health in Marion County on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FLHealthMarion for the latest updates on COVID-19 in Marion.