Delaware will close its COVID-19 call centers Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Public Health to close COVID-19 call centers Tuesday

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Health

In another sign that COVID-19 is becoming a part of ordinary life, the Delaware Division of Public Health will close its COVID-19 call center and vaccine call center Tuesday because the number of calls has dwindled. It’s one more indication that the state and the federal government are starting to consider how to handle the ebbing of the pandemic as …

flu virus

Delaware flu cases plateau, but will holidays trigger rise?

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Health

The week after the state announced the first flu death of the season, the number of confirmed flu cases dropped for two weeks in a row, leading to hopes that infections may have plateaued. The drop to 1,014 cases for the week ending Dec. 17, follows a small decline from 1,125 cases the previous week and 1,154 cases the week …

Delaware tripledemic

Delaware may face ‘tripledemic’ of COVID, flu, RSV cases

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Health

  If you are sick, stay home. That’s the big message behind the state’s announcement Friday that Delaware could face a “tripledemic” of three serious respiratory viruses: COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV. All three are putting patients of all ages into hospitals, which were already strained by infected patients and those who need medical …

A Wilmington woman will go to federal prison for 31 months for lying on applications for COVID relief funds and accepting the money.

Delaware woman sent to prison for COVID relief funds theft

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

  A Wilmington woman was sentenced this week to 31 months in jail for applying for and taking $246,000 in false claims for federal COVID-19 relief funds. Ana Soto, 41, who formerly lived in Newark, submitted 17 fraudulentĀ  loan applications for Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act money. She had applied for as much as $746,000 in small …

COVD-19

COVID-19 vaccines for kids 6 months to 5 years ready in Del.

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Health

Delaware’s pre-ordered COVID-19 vaccines for ages 6 months through 5 years old were expected to start arriving Monday, June 20. They will go to medical providers who pre-ordered them, but not all did. Parents of those children should be able to have the kids vaccinated starting Tuesday, the Division of Public Health announced, after the drugs were approved for emergency …

John Carney wearing a suit and tie

Carney tests positive for COVID-19

Betsy PriceHeadlines

  Gov. John Carney announced Monday night that he tested positive for COVID-19 through an at-home antigen test. He took the test after experiencing mild symptoms. He is now isolating, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend. ā€œI am feeling well and will continue to work remotely, but unfortunately will have to miss a few in-person events,ā€ Carney …

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Teacher compensation bill aims to strengthen educator pipeline

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

  Riding fears that COVID-19 drove teachers from classrooms and worries over Maryland saying it will pay starting teachers $60,000 by 2026, a bill designed to change teacher pay in Delaware sailed through the state Senate Thursday. It will go to the House Education Committee next. Sponsored by Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, SB 100 would create a 15-member Public Education …

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COVID cases, hospitalizations rise about 50% in last month, still low

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Health

The daily average number of COVID-19 cases in Delaware has risen by 50% in the last month, but is still miniscule compared to the thousands per day in January. As of Thursday, the number of daily new cases, averaged over seven days, was 157.1, up from 94 on March 25. The number of hospitalizations was 25 Thursday, up 10 from …

(Delaware State University photo)

DSU: Spring classes will start as virtual; return to campus delayed 2 weeks

Betsy PriceEducation, Headlines

Delaware State students will need booster vaccinations before they are allowed to return to campus in 2022.   Citing the significant increase in in COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant, Delaware State University on Thursday said that it would delay the return to campus by two weeks and that students must be vaccinated and boosted to be on campus. …

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Another winter surge? Delaware COVID cases, deaths rise

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Health

  The number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths in Delaware continued to rise in the last week, but hospitalizations dropped by a few. The Delaware Division of Public Health said the average daily number of new cases was 380.6 in the week ending Thursday, Nov. 25. That’s up from 329.6 the previous week and 271.9 the week before. Public …