© 2026 WGCU News
News for all of Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Lee Health Sees COVID Uptick

"Surgical Face Mask" by NurseTogether is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
/
https://www.nursetogether.com/

In a news conference with local media this afternoon, Lee Health President & CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci gave an update on the rising number of cases of coronavirus in Southwest Florida.

"Over the last few weeks, Lee Health has seen a slow rise in both our positivity rate and the number of patients we have treated for COVID-19 in our hospitals. Two weeks ago we were caring for 47 admitted COVID-19 patients. Today that number is 78," Antonucci said.

Especially as more visitors enter the area for the winter, Antonucci cautioned people to stay vigilant.

"The coronavirus is still in our backyard and will be for the foreseeable future."

It’s imperative to practice safety precautions, he said.
Those include:

  • Wear a mask
  • Wash your hands frequently
  • Keep a safe distance from others
  • Get a flu shot, to stay as healthy as possible.

WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now. Thank you.

Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU