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DHSS Press Release



Molly Magarik, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-357-7498
Email: DPHMedia@Delaware.gov

Date: December 18, 2020
DHSS-12-2020





WEEKLY COVID-19 UPDATE - DECEMBER 18, 2020: SURGE IN NEW POSITIVE CASES CONTINUES; HOSPITALIZATIONS, DEATHS CONTINUE TO INCREASE re


DOVER (Dec. 18, 2020) - The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of 6 p.m. Thursday, December 17, 2020.

A total of 49,109 positive cases of COVID-19 among Delaware residents have been reported to DPH since March 11, 2020 The number of new daily cases each day this week has remained elevated with a seven-day average of 763.9 as of Thursday, Dec. 17.

The seven-day average for the percentage of persons who tested positive for COVID-19 decreased from 22.9% as of Dec. 10 to 21.9% as of Thursday, Dec. 17. DPH publishes both positivity rates - persons tested and total tests conducted - on its COVID-19 data portal. As of Tuesday, Dec. 15, the seven-day average for the percentage of total tests that were positive was 9.7%, which represents the same percentage as of Tuesday, Dec. 8. There is a two-day lag for presenting data related to percent of tests that are positive to account for the time delay between the date of the test and the date that DPH receives the test result.

In addition, 407 individuals are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Delaware, an increase of 44 from the total as of last Friday's update. Sixty-eight of the hospitalized persons are critically ill, up 19 from last week.

A total of 854 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19. The state reported 47 additional deaths since last week's update, including eight as a result of a review of Vital Statistics records. The total number of individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranges in age from 21 to 104 years old. Of those who have died, 433 were female and 421 were male. A total of 421 individuals were from New Castle County, 151 were from Kent County, and 282 were from Sussex County.

To protect personal health information, DPH will not confirm specific information about any individual case, even if other persons or entities disclose it independently.

Additional Updates
New Walgreens Locations Added to State's Permanent COVID-19 Testing Sites: The State of Delaware will expand its partnership with Walgreens, adding eight new drive-through COVID-19 testing sites across the state. Four testing sites opened Wednesday, Dec. 16, and the remaining four will open Monday, Dec. 21. The new testing sites include:

Opened Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020:

Opening Monday, Dec. 21, 2020:

These new sites are in addition to 14 testing sites operated by Walgreens, as well as 11 other permanent testing sites - five State Service Center sites and six Public Health clinics - available throughout the state. Pop-up testing sites continue to be offered each week as well. The full list of testing locations, hours, and registration options are available on Delaware's COVID-19 website at de.gov/gettested.

Update on COVID-19 Outbreaks in Long-term Care Facilities: The Division of Public Health continues to investigate COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities throughout the state. The following facilities have experienced significant outbreaks since late September. Resident and staff tallies represent cumulative case totals between Sept. 25, 2020, and Dec. 17, 2020:

*Staff members may include health care and non-health care personnel, such as facility vendors or other individuals working in the long-term care facility who may not be full-time facility employees. As facility outbreak investigations close, they will be removed from this list.

Delaware COVID-19 Data:
The latest Delaware COVID-19 case statistics* cumulatively since March 11, provided as of 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, include:

*Data are provisional and subject to change.
**Data on negative cases are preliminary, based on negative results reported to DPH by state and commercial laboratories performing analysis.

Aggregate K-12 School-Related COVID-19 Statistics:
The Division of Public Health is providing statewide aggregate data on the total number of COVID-19 positive cases among students and staff who were in-person at a school or child care facility while potentially infectious, reported to DPH since Sept. 1, 2020. To determine the start of the infectious period, or when others may have been exposed to someone infectious, DPH looks 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms or 48 hours prior to testing for those individuals who had no symptoms. These data only indicate potential exposure to COVID-19 in these settings, not whether exposure actually occurred. Please note, these figures do not indicate that the infections were caused from being in the school setting.

Total number of COVID-19 positive students and staff, statewide, who were in-person at a school or child care facility while potentially infectious, reported to DPH between Sept. 1, 2020, and Dec. 16, 2020**:

135
Weekly Total, 12/10/20-12/16/20 Cumulative Total, 9/1/20-12/16/20
Setting Staff Cases Student Cases Staff Cases Student Cases
Child Care facility 24 27 150
Private K-12 9 18 91 199
Public K-12 54 48 374 300

**Data is preliminary and subject to change.

Long-term Care Statistics:
Information related to positive cases and deaths among residents at long-term care facilities will be updated weekly each Friday, using information reported as of 6 p.m. Thursday. There have been a total of 1,769 positive COVID-19 cases cumulatively involving long-term care residents, and 463 residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.

The locations and number of deaths involving residents of long-term care facilities are:

Additional demographic data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, including race/ethnicity, more age-specific data and rates information by ZIP code, and information on Delaware's contact tracing efforts can be found on the Division of Public Health's My Healthy Community data portal atde.gov/healthycommunity

If you are sick with any of the following symptoms, stay home: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, chills, shaking with chills, loss of smell or taste, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, or headache or congestion or runny nose without a known cause such as allergies. Other symptoms such as abdominal pain or lack of appetite have been identified as potential symptoms related to COVID-19 and may prompt further screening, action or investigation by a primary care provider. If you are sick and need essential supplies, ask someone else to go to the grocery store or the pharmacy to get what you need.

If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or have symptoms of illness, make sure to distance yourself from others, particularly vulnerable populations. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions - including serious heart conditions, chronic lung conditions, including moderate to severe asthma, severe obesity and those who are immunocompromised, including through cancer treatment - may have a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Information about testing events, including community testing sites and free-standing sites operated by the health care systems and hospitals, will be listed on the testing section of the Delaware coronavirus website at: coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing/.

Delawareans over the age of 18 are encouraged to download COVID Alert DE, Delaware's free exposure notification app to help protect your neighbors while ensuring your privacy. Download on the App Store or Google Play.

Individuals who have complaints about individuals violating public gathering restrictions should contact state or local law enforcement. Concerns that a business may be violating operating restrictions should be directed to: HSPContact@delaware.gov. Questions related to business re-openings or operations as businesses re-open should go to COVID19FAQ@delaware.gov.

Individuals with questions about COVID-19 should call Delaware 2-1-1, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211, or email info@delaware211.org. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov. Questions regarding unemployment claims should be emailed to:UIClaims@delaware.gov.

In addition, the Division of Public Health asks any Delaware health care, long-term care, residential, or other high-risk facility with questions or concerns to email: DPH_PAC@delaware.gov or call the DPH Call Center at 1-866-408-1899 and press ext. 2.

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware's response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.



Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.







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