OCALA, Fla.—More than 5,500 Marion residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Marion’s first case in March. As the community continues to see cases increase, the Department of Health in Marion County wants to re-share key things someone who is newly diagnosed with COVID-19 should know in the days and weeks after their diagnosis.  

Isolating at home

• Stay in one room, away from others in your household, including pets.
• Have sole use of a bathroom.
• Wear a cloth face covering.
• Don’t share personal household items like cups, utensils and towels.

At-home care

• Keep track of any symptoms, and check your temperature twice daily.
• Watch for common symptoms: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Be alert for severe symptoms: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face.
• Call your doctor or health care provider if your symptoms get worse.
• Ask your doctor or health care provider about pain and fever medication.
• Get rest and stay hydrated.
• Visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html for more information.

Public health staff will ask you about close contacts

Over a number of days, staff will monitor you and your contacts. This is called contact tracing, and it’s a core public health function that helps stop the spread of the disease.

Timeline for stopping self-isolation

• You tested positive with symptoms
  • At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared

AND

• At least 24 hours have passed since you’ve had a fever without using fever-reducing medications, and other symptoms have improved.

• You tested positive without symptoms
  • At least 10 days have passed since the day you were tested, and you have no symptoms

COVID-19 Cases Update

Marion County is reporting 5,543 cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of this afternoon. This is an increase of 109 cases since yesterday (Aug. 4).

Of Marion COVID-19 tests from Aug. 4, 11.8% were positive; the county’s cumulative positive test rate is 11.7%. The daily positivity rate for all new COVID-19 tests in Florida on Aug. 4 was 10.89%; the state’s cumulative positive rate is 13.16%.

A total of 76 Marion County residents have died after contracting COVID-19. They ranged in age from 32 years old to 98 years old.

For more information

Visit DOH-Marion online at Marion.FloridaHealth.gov and follow the agency on Twitter (@FLHealthMarion) for the latest on COVID-19 in Marion County. 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.