COVID cases continue decline; vaccinations rise; state still wants people tested

As the state closes in on 90,000 cases of COVID-19 among residents, the number of new cases and hospitalizations continues to decline from the holiday surge peak.

While COVID-19 variants do not appear to be circulating, the state still wants to people to be tested, especially if they think they have been exposed or have symptoms of the illness, and to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

Vaccines

As of Friday morning, 303,568 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Delaware, the Delaware Division of Public Health said in a press release Friday.

A total of 329,290 doses have been delivered to the state, and 63,925 doses have been delivered as part of the federal pharmacy programs.

The state said this week it continue to vaccinate residents who are age 65 and older while also vaccinating school personnel, child care workers, poultry workers and others in front-line jobs that require them to be there in person, work closely with others and interact with the public.

The stats

The seven-day average of new positive cases dropped to 203.6 as of Thursday. The percentage of persons who tested positive this week was 15.9%, down from 19.6% and the total number of tests that were positive dropped to 3.9%,  down from 4.6%.

Also,  83 people are hospitalized Friday, down 44 from last week; 14 are in critical condition.

The state reported 43 more deaths from COVID, meaning the state is only four souls away from 1,500 deaths.

• To date, only 12 confirmed cases of the UK variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7, and 1 confirmed case of the South African variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 have been found in Delaware, both in routine checks of test specimens. These strains are considered more infectious that the COVID-19 that has been circulating in the U.S.
•  The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services will test using DART’s Paratransit fleet to bring COVID-19 vaccines to people 65 and older in Western Sussex County. That area was chosen because of consistenly high levels of infections. The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services came up with the idea.

• The Wilmington Library will offer COVID-19 vaccinations at its Rodney Square branch Friday, March 19, for citizens 65 and over. People must register for the shots here or by calling the library at 302-571-7400.

Where to be tested

New Castle County

• Monday, March 15 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Frawley Stadium (801 Shipyard Drive, Wilmington) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Tuesday, March 16 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Wilmington University Rt. 13 (320 N. Dupont Highway, New Castle) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Tuesday, March 16 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.: University of Delaware Hollingsworth Lot (61 North College Ave., Newark) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Wednesday, March 17 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Henrietta Johnson Medical Center (601 New Castle Ave., Wilmington)  Register by calling 302-655-6187
• Wednesday, March 17 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Middletown High School (120 Silver Lake Rd, Middletown) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Wednesday, March 17 from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.: ChristianaCare Hospital, Wilmington 601 Parking Lot (601 Delaware Ave. Wilmington) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Thursday, March 18 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Warner Elementary School (801 W. 18^th Street, Wilmington) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Thursday, March 18 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Wilmington University Brandywine Campus (10 Beaver Valley Road, Wilmington) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Thursday, March 18 from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Henrietta Johnson Medical Center (601 New Castle Ave., Wilmington)  Register by calling 302-655-6187
• Friday, March 19 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: University of Delaware Laird Campus Lot No. 6 (David Hollowell Drive, Newark) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Friday, March 19 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Thomas Edison Charter School (Indoor Walk Up – 2200 Locust St., Wilmington) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Friday, March 19 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Henrietta Johnson Medical Center (601 New Castle Ave., Wilmington) Register by calling 302-655-6187
• Saturday, March 20 from 10 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Westside Healthcare (Indoor Walk Up -1802 W. 4^th St., Wilmington) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Saturday, March 20 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: University of Delaware STAR Campus (540 S College Ave., Newark) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Saturday, March 20 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: St. Joseph’s Church (371 E. Main St., Middletown) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Saturday, March 20 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Henrietta Johnson Medical Center (601 New Castle Ave., Wilmington)  Register by calling 302-655-6187
• Sunday, March 21 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: University of Delaware STAR Campus (540 S College Ave., Newark) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com

Kent County

• Monday, March 15 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Clayton Fire Co. (300 East St., Clayton) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Tuesday, March 16 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Holy Trinity UAME Church (101 S. New St., Dover) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Wednesday, March 17 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Caesar Rodney High School (239 Old North Road, Camden) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Thursday, March 18 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Transformation AME Zion Church (702 Maple Parkway, Dover) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Thursday, March 18 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Mt. Enon Baptist Church (600 N. Church St., Milford) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Friday, March 19 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Milford High School (1019 N. Walnut St., Milford) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com

Sussex County

• Monday, March 15 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Epworth UM Church (19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Monday, March 15 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center (400 Governors Ave., Greenwood) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Tuesday, March 16 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Macedonia AME Church (431 N. North St., Seaford) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Thursday, March 18 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Ellendale Fire Department (302 Main St., Ellendale) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Friday, March 19 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Laurel Elementary School (815 South, N. Central Ave., Laurel) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Friday, March 19 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Rehoboth City Hall (229 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
• Saturday, March 20 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Lord Baltimore Elementary School (120 Atlantic Ave., Ocean View) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com

Betsy Price

Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.