COVID-19 in Lake, Sumter counties: New infections continue to rise

Caroline Gaspich, Daily Commercial
·5 min read

LEESBURG — COVID-19 numbers are continuing to increase locally and across the state of Florida as the BA.2 Omicron subvariant spreads.

Lake and Sumter counties have seen that rise in the last two weeks, according to the most recent data from the Florida Department of Health.

Lake County schools have seen a small increase in new positive cases, too. But all schools still have a low transmission risk, the district's COVID-19 dashboard shows.

Here's a look at local COVID trends:

Our last COVID report: COVID-19 in Lake, Sumter counties: Infections continue to rise as subvariant spreads

More in state-wide COVID: CDC recommends masks for some as health-care risk levels for COVID rise in Florida's urban areas

Watch:The latest episode of the Lake Report

The COVID-19 landscape in Lake, Sumter counties

Between May 13 to May 19 in Lake County, a total of 778 people tested positive for coronavirus, according to the FDOH.

This is an increase from two weeks ago, when 487 new people tested positive. Between April 29 to May 5, Lake County's positivity rate was 11.3%. In the past week, 14.1% of people who tested for the virus saw positive results.

Sumter County also saw an increase in COVID cases. Between April 29 to May 5, 177 positive cases were recorded. Between May 13 to May 19, 269 people tested positive for the coronavirus.

Sumter's positivity rate increased from 10.7% to 14.5%.

Lake schools see increase in new cases

The Lake County School District has reported an increase in new COVID-19 cases during the 39th week of school.

Between May 16 to May 20, the Lake County School district reported 53 new coronavirus cases in students and 16 in staffers, according to the most recent data on the school district's COVID-19 dashboard.

In the 37th week of school, the district reported 30 coronavirus cases in students and 16 in staffers.

Here's a look at the cumulative totals for Lake County schools:

  • Academy of Lake Hills South: Four students and eight staffers

  • Astatula Elementary: 77 students and 16 staffers

  • Beverly Shores Elementary: 55 students and 33 staffers

  • Carver Middle: 66 students and five staffers

  • Cecil E. Gray Middle: 109 students and 25 staffers

  • Clermont Elementary: 78 students and 22 staffers

  • Cypress Ridge Elementary: 89 students and 21 staffers

  • East Ridge High: 360 students and 54 staffers

  • East Ridge Middle: 163 students and 41 staffers

  • Eustis Elementary: 48 students and 20 staffers

  • Eustis Heights Elementary: 83 students and 30 staffers

  • Eustis High: 152 students and 34 staffers

  • Eustis Middle: 119 students and 21 staffers

  • Fruitland Park Elementary: 75 students and 34 staffers

  • Grassy Lake Elementary: 189 students and 45 staffers

  • Groveland Elementary: 84 students and 24 staffers

  • Lake Hills School: 22 students and 51 staffers

  • Lake Minneola High: 355 students and 28 staffers

  • Lake Pointe Academy: 143 students and 39 staffers

  • Lake Success Academy: Four students and two staffers

  • Leesburg Elementary: 92 students and 39 staffers

  • Leesburg High: 125 students and 16 staffers

  • Lost Lake Elementary: 173 students and 39 staffers

  • Mount Dora High: 224 students and 41 staffers

  • Mount Dora Middle: 106 students and 18 staffers

  • Oak Park Middle: 72 students and 24 staffers

  • Pine Ridge Elementary: 81 students and 34 staffers

  • Rimes Early Learning: 30 students and 26 staffers

  • Sawgrass Bay Elementary: 94 students and 30 staffers

  • Seminole Springs Elementary: 59 students and 20 staffers

  • Sorrento Elementary: 111 students and 41 staffers

  • South Lake High: 348 students and 37 staffers

  • Tavares Elementary: 121 students and 40 staffers

  • Tavares High: 188 students and 30 staffers

  • Tavares Middle: 124 students and 26 staffers

  • The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake: 106 students and 34 staffers

  • Treadway Elementary: 72 students and 27 staffers

  • Triangle Elementary: 103 students and 33 staffers

  • Umatilla Elementary: 39 students and 17 staffers

  • Umatilla High: 63 students and 13 staffers

  • Umatilla Middle: 33 students and 13 staffers

  • Windy Hill Middle: 172 students and 17 staffers

All Lake County schools remain in 'green zone'

As of the 39th week of school, all Lake County schools are in the "green zone" with the lowest transmission risk for the fourth consecutive week.

There are no Lake County schools in the "red zone," categorized has having a high transmission risk, or the "yellow zone," categorized as having a moderate transmission risk.

Schools enter the "red zone" when 5% or more of the school's population test positive for COVID-19 over a two-week period. Then, they are strongly encouraged to implement mitigation strategies to slow the spread, including masking.

"When a school is identified as 'RED' the school and district will notify all students, parents and staff that they are in 'RED' and masks will be strongly encouraged when staff and students return to school the following Monday, "according to district safety protocols.

A Florida law passed last year bans mask mandates, even with parental opt-out option.

Vaccination efforts continue

According to the FDOH, in Lake County 69% of people aged 5 and older are vaccinated. Between May 13 to May 19, another 86 received their vaccination.

In Sumter County, 77% of people aged 5 and older are vaccinated. Within the last week 48 more people got vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the FDOH in Lake County is offering the Pfizer vaccine, COVID-19 tests and boosters at these sites:

DOH-Lake Community Health Site, 560 W. DeSoto St., Clermont. Open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

DOH-Lake Leesburg Site, 2113 Griffin Road, Leesburg. Open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Friday.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: COVID numbers continue to increase in Lake, Sumter counties