COVID-19 in Lake, Sumter counties: Lake FDOH to close vaccine, testing sites June 30

Caroline Gaspich, Daily Commercial
·3 min read

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LEESBURG — The Florida Department of Health in Lake County will be closing COVID-19 vaccine and testing sites in Lake County on June 30.

This change comes as infections continue on a slight rise in Lake and Sumter counties amid a spread of an omicron subvariant. Currently, 69% of Lake Countians ages 5 and older are vaccinated.

It also comes as the FDA approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children ages six months through 4 years of age. The vaccine had been approved for people aged 5 and up.

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

Here's a look at local COVID trends:

Our last COVID report:COVID-19 in Lake, Sumter counties: Infections continue to increase as summer nears

COVID vaccines expand for young children:Youngest Americans can start getting COVID-19 vaccines Tuesday. Here's what every parent should know.

State-wide vaccination rates:Florida's COVID vaccination count drops by 60,000; DeSantis administration won't say why

The COVID-19 landscape in Lake, Sumter counties

Between June 10 and June 16 in Lake County, a total of 1,052 people tested positive for coronavirus, according to the FDOH.

This is an increase from two weeks ago, when 929 new people tested positive. Between May 27 and June 2, Lake County's positivity rate was 18%. Between June 10 and June 16, 18.3% of people who tested for the virus saw positive results.

Sumter County also saw an increase in COVID cases. Between May 27 to June 278 positive cases were recorded. Between June 10 and June 16, 281 people tested positive for the coronavirus.

However, Sumter's positivity rate decreased from 17.8% to 16.4% during that time.

COVID-19 vaccines, testing ending

The Florida Department of Health in Lake County announced that it will be ending COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Lake County on June 30. The schedule until that day will be as follows:

DOH-Lake Community Health Site located at 560 W. DeSoto Street, Clermont: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

DOH-Lake Leesburg Site located at 2113 Griffin Road, Leesburg: Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

DOH-Lake Umatilla Site located at 249 E. Collins Street: Umatilla. Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Between June 10 and June 16, another 68 Lake Countians received their vaccination.

In Sumter County, 77% of people aged 5 and older are vaccinated. Within the last week, 19 more people got vaccinated.

Any resident in need of COVID-19 vaccines or testing after June 30 are encouraged to contact their primary doctor's office, local pharmacy, urgent care, or community health centers in their area. Those without a primary doctor can contact the DOH office at 352-771-5500 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment.

To find additional COVID-19 vaccine locations near you, visit vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 or visit floridahealthcovid19.gov/vaccines/vaccinelocator.

To find a testing site near you visit loridahealthcovid19.gov/testing-sites. For the latest local information, visit the DOH website at lake.floridahealth.gov or follow them on Twitter at @FLHealthLake.

For general information on COVID-19 in Florida, visit www.floridahealth.gov/covid-19, email covid-19@flhealth.gov, or call 866-779-6121.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Lake County ending COVID vaccine, testing sites as cases continue to rise