COVID still kills; nearly 2,500 dead of ailment in state so far in 2024

TALLAHASSEE — Since COVID-19 was first discovered in Sarasota County in Doctors Hospital on March 1, 2020, nearly 100,000 people in Florida have been killed by the illness.

And while the disease has eased in its 2021 rampage through the Sunshine State, it is still causing thousands of deaths each year — and dozens in the region.

In a Tuesday report, News Service of Florida stated 2,476 Florida resident deaths so far in 2024 to COVID-19. NSF stated the data came from the state Department of Health website on Monday.

Of the nearly 2,500 dead so far in the state this year, 90 have died of the ailment in Sarasota County; 92 in Lee County. The website notes 45 have died of COVID-19 in Charlotte County during 2024. In DeSoto County, five people have succumbed to it during the year.

The year 2021 was, by the numbers, the worst year for the state and region. More than 1,300 died among Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota counties.

Since March 2020, Sarasota County has had 2,368 deaths linked to COVID-19; Charlotte County has had 1,159 and DeSoto County has had 191. That makes a total of 3,718 among the region.

While COVID-19 hasn’t killed as many as in 2021, due in part to medical advances, officials still urge caution and for people to update vaccines.