OCALA, Fla.—The Department of Health in Marion County is reporting 467 cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of this afternoon. This is an increase of 217 cases since June 1.

“We’re seeing a large increase in positive cases. Many are linked to individuals not following COVID-19 precautions,” said Department of Health in Marion County Administrator Mark Lander. “If you do not follow the guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, you are putting yourself and others at risk. We all need to take basic steps to help keep one another healthy.” 

Precautions include not having more than 50 people gather together, practicing social distancing, and wearing masks when going out into public and you aren’t able to socially distance. Sick individuals also need to stay home and self-isolate. Each precautionary step provides benefits to the individual and others, but these precautions are most effective when all of them are followed together. Failure to follow the guidelines, especially with large events, can lead to outbreaks.

Of Marion COVID-19 tests from June 23, 11.7% were positive – this is its highest daily rate to-date. The county’s overall positive test rate is 2.2%. Florida’s daily positive test rate for June 23 was 18.43%; the state’s overall positive test rate is 6.5%.

To date, 21,319 COVID-19 tests have been given in Marion County. Of those, 20,845 were negative. Individuals who tested positive for the virus in Marion County have ranged in age from 6 months to 97 years old. Ten Marion County residents have died after becoming ill with COVID-19. For more detailed information on all Marion cases, view Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard.

If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or if you are experiencing symptoms of the virus (such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing), DOH-Marion recommends that you self-isolate and get tested for the virus. The department offers free COVID-19 testing; call 352-644-2590 to schedule an appointment at the health department. You do not need to be experiencing symptoms to be tested. Testing is also available at other local medical providers; call before visiting a facility if you would like to be tested for COVID-19.

The most recent individuals confirmed to have the virus are:

• 19-year-old female, Ocala
• 49-year-old male, Ocala
• 53-year-old female, Ocala
• 24-year-old female, Ocala
• 32-year-old female, Summerfield
• 35-year-old female, Summerfield
• 39-year-old male, Ocala
• 17-year-old female, Ocala
• 29-year-old female, Ocala
• 29-year-old female, Ocala
• 26-year-old male, Weirsdale
• 33-year-old male, Ocala
• 20-year-old female, Ocala
• 35-year-old male, Ocala
• 27-year-old female, Ocala
• 75-year-old female, Ocala
• 49-year-old male, Dunnellon
• 24-year-old female, Ocala
• 31-year-old female, Ocala
• 27-year-old male, Ocala
• 33-year-old male, Ocala
• 12-year-old female, Ocala
• 51-year-old female, Ocala
• 73-year-old male, Summerfield
• 37-year-old male, Summerfield
• 24-year-old female, Ocala
• 50-year-old female, Ocala
• 38-year-old female, Anthony
• 33-year-old female, Belleview
• 20-year-old female, Ocala
• 25-year-old female, Ocala
• 21-year-old male, Ocala
• 37-year-old male, Fort McCoy
• 31-year-old female, Ocala
• 73-year-old female, Ocala
• 28-year-old male, Ocala
• 22-year-old female, Ocala
• 48-year-old female, Ocala
• 56-year-old male, Weirsdale
• 30-year-old female, Ocala
• 41-year-old female, Ocala
• 21-year-old female, Ocala
• 46-year-old female, Ocala

State health advisory issued Saturday

The Florida Department of Health issued an additional public health advisory on Saturday, June 20, in response to COVID-19, providing recommendations to protect Floridians and visitors from the virus. This advisory is in addition to steps that the department has taken to increase mitigation measures, including the purchase of 20 million cloth masks across the state. In Marion County, DOH-Marion staff have distributed more than 100,000 cloth masks locally to-date. To read the full advisory, visit https://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2020/06/062020-1640-covid19.pr.html.

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.