Marion COVID-19 cases drop again, hospitalizations high     

A registered nurse with the Department of Health tests Steven Verdejo Jr., 16, for the coronavirus during the COVID-19 drive-thru testing at the Florida Department of Health Marion County in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, June 29, 2020. The Department of Health is testing for COVID-19 three-four days a week with prior appointments. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

A registered nurse with the Department of Health prepares to test Steven Verdejo Jr. for COVID-19 in this June 2020 file photo. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

The county positivity rate and cases per 100,000 dropped as well. The positivity rate fell sharply from 25.5% to 17.9% and the cases per 100,000 went from 565.1 to 414.3, according to figures released by the Florida Department of Health Friday evening.

The state recorded 75,906 new cases of COVID-19 during the week of Sept. 10 to Sept. 16, its lowest number of new weekly cases since the week of July 23rd, and almost half of the new cases reported during the week of Aug 20.  Vaccination rates dropped as well, however, as the state recorded its lowest number of vaccinations since July 16, administering 335,327 doses.

While new cases dropped, county hospitalization numbers still remain high, as Health and Human Services data show 96% of all inpatient beds in the county are occupied, with COVID-19 patients making up 29% of the inpatient population. Additionally, 96% of all ICU beds are occupied, and COVID-19 patients make up 33% of those in the ICU.  

Meanwhile, Marion County’s immunocompromised residents are able to receive the third shot of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at multiple locations, thanks to a partnership between Marion County Public Schools and the county.  Below is the information as posted on the Marion County Facebook page.    

Liberty Middle School:

Appointments will be scheduled for Sept. 18, at Liberty Middle School, 4773 SW 95th St., Ocala. Appointments will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. You can sign up for an appointment online at https://tinyurl.com/marioncovidvax.

Health Department Ocala Facility:

Appointments are available from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21, at the department’s Ocala facility, 1801 SE 32nd Avenue. You can sign up for an appointment online at this link: https://tinyurl.com/MakeMarionFLVaxAppt.

Call the Department of Health in Marion County at 352-644-2590 for information.

Marion County Public Schools are expected to release their COVID-related data on Monday, Sept. 20.