For first time in months, state says there are no virus hot spots

Delaware officials say there’s no need to register multiple times for vaccines.

Gov. John Carney said the state is over the holiday surge of new cases and hospitalizations, and moving closer to being able to open up more of the economy.

Among the statistics that he and health officials detailed during Tuesday’s weekly COVID-19 press conference:

• The state currently stands at 366.4 new cases per day. At the surge peak, some days saw 1,000 or more new cases. It also is seeing 6.5% of COVID-19 tests be positive, a number that was over 10% but the state wants below 5%. 
• Young adults rank among the highest in COVID-19 transmission, something the state is campaigning to lower as the University of Delaware prepares to bring 4,000 students back to dorms, tripling the amount living there last fall.
• The state has administered a total of 1,285,813 tests and 599,559 individuals have been tested, almost two thirds of the state’s population. 
• There are currently 254 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 27 of which are considered critical. At the surge peak, there were 472 people hospitalized.
• 1,221 Delawareans have died from COVID-19.

Carney reminded Delawareans to follow coronavirus mandates and regulations like wearing a mask and social distance to ensure the safety of themselves and the community. 

Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the Delaware Division of Public Health, said that she usually starts her segment of the show with a map showing the towns in which the virus is rampant. 

It was based on a criteria of 500 cases per 100,000.

She didn’t have a map this week. Only seven zip codes in the state meet a criteria of 250 cases per 100,000, meaning most of the state is somewhere under that, she said.

The state will  establish new criteria as to  track areas of concern and help fight the virus.

“I think we’ll just celebrate right now the fact that throughout the state we’ve had decreases,” she said.

luke dollard