Delaware Governor John Carney said today that the number of people in the hospital for corononavirus is rising sharply.
Carney spoke at a press conference early this afternoon.
Carney said the number of people hospitalized will rise sharply today from the previous figure of 56.
An update on the number of cases and hospitalizations is expected later today
The figure is being closely watched as the state’s hospitals make preparations for a surge in patients.
The state is also looking into overflow facilities to handle the expected surge. One possibility is using conference and other non-medical offices at hospital campuses.
It was announced that Bloom Energy’s Newark plant has refurbished 30 ventilators that were in the state’s inventory and shipped the machines back to the state for use with seriously ill patients in the state’s hospitals. More are expected to be delivered by the company.
Dr. Karyl Rattay said the state is seeing a higher incidence of coronavirus among younger people.
He said it is also becoming clear that people with symptoms of coronavirus are continuing to work and move about the community.
“We’re pleading with people,” Rattay said in asking individuals with even mild symptoms to stay home.
Rattay asked that those observing coming religious holidays (Easter, Passover, Ramadan) keep in mind the need to not hold in-person gatherings and use alternatives.
Carney said there was a rationale behind the decision to list essential and nonessential businesses, pointing to the decision to keep liquor stores open – the need to make certain that problem drinkers do not go into withdrawal and not enter the hospital system.
Carney acknowledged that he is concerned with the lack of social distancing at construction sites. While companies have cooperated after complaints, he said shutting down sites that do not comply is an option.
Also brought up were enforcement actions around liquor stores near the Pennsylvania line in the Naamans Road area.
Delaware has barred nonessential travel by out of state residents for shopping. The situation has been made worse by Pennsylvania closing its state-owned liquor stores.
The commonwealth is now allowing online sales of liquor, but has kept stores closed, to the dismay of nearby states.
