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

LEESBURG — The school year has come to a close, summer is almost here and new COVID-19 infections are rising locally and across the state of Florida.

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

Lake County Schools did, however, see a slight drop in cases in the last two weeks, according to the district's COVID-19 dashboard.

Here's a look at local COVID trends:

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

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More on COVID this summer:COVID-19 cases are rising in many states. What experts say makes this summer different.

The COVID-19 landscape in Lake, Sumter counties

Between May 27 and June 2 in Lake County, a total of 929 people tested positive for coronavirus, according to the FDOH.

This is an increase from two weeks ago, when 778 new people tested positive. Between May 13 to May 19, Lake County's positivity rate was 14.1%. In the past week, 18.0% of people who tested for the virus saw positive results.

Sumter County also saw an increase in COVID cases. Between May 13 to May 19, 269 positive cases were recorded. Between May 27 to June 2, 278 people tested positive for the coronavirus.

Sumter's positivity rate increased from 14.5% to 17.8%.

Lake schools see decrease in new cases

The Lake County School District has reported an increase in new COVID-19 cases during the 40th week of school.

Between May 23 and May 27, the Lake County School district reported 38 new coronavirus cases in students and 17 in staffers, according to the most recent data on the school district's COVID-19 dashboard.

In the 29th week of school, the district reported 53 coronavirus cases in students and 17 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: 80 students and 16 staffers

• Beverly Shores Elementary: 56 students and 34 staffers

• Carver Middle: 66 students and five staffers

• Cecil E. Gray Middle: 109 students and 26 staffers

• Clermont Elementary: 79 students and 24 staffers

• Cypress Ridge Elementary: 90 students and 22 staffers

• East Ridge High: 366 students and 59 staffers

• East Ridge Middle: 165 students and 42 staffers

• Eustis Elementary: 48 students and 20 staffers

• Eustis Heights Elementary: 83 students and 30 staffers

• Eustis High: 153 students and 36 staffers

• Eustis Middle: 119 students and 21 staffers

• Fruitland Park Elementary: 75 students and 34 staffers

• Grassy Lake Elementary: 191 students and 47 staffers

• Groveland Elementary: 86 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 40 staffers

• Leesburg High: 125 students and 16 staffers

• Lost Lake Elementary: 176 students and 40 staffers

• Mount Dora High: 226 students and 41 staffers

• Mount Dora Middle: 106 students and 18 staffers

• Oak Park Middle: 74 students and 24 staffers

• Pine Ridge Elementary: 81 students and 34 staffers

• Rimes Early Learning: 30 students and 26 staffers

• Sawgrass Bay Elementary: 97 students and 30 staffers

• Seminole Springs Elementary: 59 students and 20 staffers

• Sorrento Elementary: 111 students and 41 staffers

• South Lake High: 353 students and 37 staffers

• Tavares Elementary: 121 students and 40 staffers

• Tavares High: 188 students and 30 staffers

• Tavares Middle: 126 students and 27 staffers

• The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake: 108 students and 35 staffers

• Treadway Elementary: 73 students and 30 staffers

• Triangle Elementary: 103 students and 33 staffers

• Umatilla Elementary: 39 students and 17 staffers

• Umatilla High: 63 students and 13 staffers

• Umatilla Middle: 34 students and 13 staffers

• Windy Hill Middle: 172 students and 19 staffers

All Lake County schools remain in 'green zone'

As of the 40th 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 27 to June 2, another 87 received their vaccination.

In Sumter County, 77% of people aged 5 and older are vaccinated. Within the last week, 23 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-19 in Lake, Sumter: New infections slowly increase as summer nears