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COVID-19 outbreak reported in Ocoee assisted living facility

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of COVID-19 at Ocoee Health Care Center, an assisted living facility located on Maguire Road.

County health officials said 66 residents have tested positive, 22 of whom have been hospitalized.

In addition, 30 staff members have also tested positive.

“Coronavirus

Health officials said they are very concerned and visited the site on Thursday, and will return on Friday.

Orange County saw a record number of deaths in Orange County at 24, up from the 18 deaths that was previously reported and bringing the county’s total to 162 people.

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The ages of the most recently reported deaths range 22 years old to 106 years old.

The youngest COVID-19 case in the county is just four days old. The median age is 38.

Hospitalizations are seeing a decrease in patients, an indication that we may have peaked.

There are about 99 people in the ICU and more than 500 in the hospital.

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The recovery rate has increased from 75% from 66%.

So far, more than 225,000 people have been tested in Orange County, and there is a positivity rate of 11.3%.

The Orange County Jail has 33 COVID-positive inmates, but only one has symptoms. The county has plans to test the entire population by next week.

Ocoee Health Care Center released the following statement regarding the situation:

“We appreciate your interest to report on the current Covid 19 activity at Ocoee Healthcare Center, however, this continues to be a very fluid situation. We are continuing to work closely with Local, State and Federal agencies to deal with this ever changing situation. At this point, all residents and active staff members have been tested for the virus. Ocoee Healthcare’s dedicated health care professionals have implemented protocols to isolate those residents and staff that have tested positive for the virus from the general population. The facility has dedicated various wings of the facility solely to treat the Covid positive residents, implemented extensive cleaning procedures, and contained the remaining residents in their rooms. The facility has been in contact with resident family members to apprise them of the situation. Ocoee Healthcare Center is proud of their dedicated staff and their efforts to halt the progress of this virus and would like to express our deepest sympathies to those families or residents lost and affected by the virus at Ocoee Healthcare Center.  Ocoee Healthcare, in coordination with State and Federal Officials, will continue to fight for the health and safety of our residents and staff during these trying times.”

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Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.