COVID-19: Marion hospitals hope to get Moderna vaccine next week
Area hospitals are getting prepared to receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine, this one manufactured by Moderna, just as Marion County surpassed 200 new cases in one day for the first time since peak of the pandemic four months ago.
Marion County reported 215 new cases and two new deaths on Thursday. The last time Marion County had that many cases in one day was when 251 were reported on Aug. 9.
A state press release states that AdventHealth Ocala and Ocala Regional Medical Center are among more than 173 hospitals in 43 Florida counties scheduled to get 367,000 doses the Moderna vaccine next week, once approved by the FDA.
Ocala/Marion County business briefs for Dec. 14, 2020
Ocala Star-Banner
The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County is accepting applications for the 2021 Angelica G. Muns Scholarship.
The scholarship is available to students pursuing nursing degrees as well as postgraduate nursing students. Applicants must be enrolled in a certified nursing program in Marion County, maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their duration of schooling, and continue their career in an acute healthcare facility for up to two years.
To apply visit https://www.ocalafoundation.org/impact/#cfgrants
The application deadline is Jan. 4.
COVID-19: Officials say Ocala has plenty of hospital beds despite surge
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Marion County, officials said Friday that residents should not fear that area hospitals will run out of beds anytime in the immediate future.
The news comes despite a map produced by the New York Times this week that shows Marion County has been nearing overall hospital capacity in recent days during the pandemic, which has sickened 14 million people nationwide and 1 million in Florida.
More than 97% of all beds at the three main Marion County hospitals, as well as 95% of all ICU beds, were occupied Friday morning. But at least 88% of those patients were hospitalized for ailments other than COVID-19, according to data.
Truck driver won t be charged in fatal Ocala crash involving motorcycle
An Ocala man killed in a two-vehicle crash in downtown Ocala a few months ago was impaired, and law enforcement officials have not charged the other driver.
A report detailing the events surrounding the Oct. 12 crash states the victim had a blood alcohol level of 0.087. The state s legal limit is 0.08. A toxicology report also showed the victim was under the influence of marijuana, and officers said the rider was speeding. The excess speed of Mr. (Dane Zecharia) Crumley combined with a level of impairment by both the alcohol and marijuana were factors in this crash, wrote Ocala Police Department Officer Dan E. Wright, who investigated the crash. Wright is now a sergeant.