Marion County now has 250 COVID-19 cases

The Florida Department of Health on Monday reported that Marion County now has 250 positive tests for COVID-19, two more than were reported Sunday.

As of Monday, 13,172 people had been tested for COVID-19 in Marion, with a 1.8% positive test rate. A rate below 10% indicates enough testing is being done to identify infection spread, according to the World Health Organization.

Marion has had seven deaths and 35 hospitalizations. The median age of patients is 49, and 56% of patients are women. By race, the breakdown is 73% white, 17% black, 7% other and 3% no information.

As of Monday, Florida had registered 56,830 cases and 2,460 deaths from the coronavirus. That was up from 56,163 and 2,451, respectively, on Sunday.

Marion County’s local coronavirus hotline is now being answered 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The state hotline (1-866-779-6121) will continue to be answered 24/7.

The Department of Health in Marion County provides free COVID-19 testing for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. A doctor’s order is not needed. 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 644-2590 to be scheduled for a COVID-19 test. Testing sites scheduled through the call center include the DOH-Marion Ocala office, 1801 SE 32nd Ave., and the College of Central Florida Hampton Center, 1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd.