The number of coronavirus deaths in Delaware rose to 72, with more than 200 new positive tests.
The figures were released today by the Delaware Division of Public Health. The five additional deaths comes as health care officials skipped a day in reporting figures as the transition was made to a new system with more detailed information.
All five deaths involved elderly residents in Kent and Sussex counties. Hospitalizations continue to increase, but at a pace that will not put undue pressure on the state’s hospital systems.
Getting closer scrutiny is Sussex County, which is seeing an uptick in coronavirus cases and is now within 200 of the total in New Castle County, which has twice as many residents.
Also, Sussex, unlike New Castle, has seen two deaths from patients with no underlying health conditions. Deaths of people without underlying conditions have typically been reported in hotspots like New York City.
The total number of people tested is moving toward the 16,500 mark, a figure that still represents less than two percent of the state’s population. By contrast, neighboring Maryland secured a half a million tests for its nearly six million residents.
Individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranged in age from 33 to 98 years old.
The most recent deaths all involve individuals with underlying health conditions, except for one Sussex Countian.
- 81-year-old woman from Kent County, hospitalized, long-term care facility
- 62-year-old woman from Sussex County, hospitalized with no underlying health conditions.
- 80-year-old woman from Sussex County, long-term care facility
- 93-year-old man from Sussex County, long-term care facility
- 95-year-old woman from Sussex County, long-term care facility
The latest Delaware COVID-19 case statistics cumulatively since March 11, provided as of 6 p.m., Sunday, April 19, include:
- New Castle County cases: 1,229
- Kent County cases: 430
- Sussex County cases: 1,055
- Unknown County: 31
- Males: 1,243; Females: 1,494; Unknown: 8
- Age range: 0 to 103
- Currently hospitalized: 256; Critically ill: 64 (This data represents individuals currently hospitalized in a Delaware hospital regardless of residence, and is not cumulative.)
As of 6 p.m. Sunday, 167 positive COVID-19 cases involving residents of long-term care facilities in Delaware have been reported. Forty-one residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.
The locations and number of deaths related to long-term care facilities are:
- Milford Center, Genesis Healthcare (14)
- Little Sisters of the Poor, Newark (11)
- Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (5)
- Atlantic Shores Rehabilitation and Health Center (2)
- Governor Bacon Health Center (1)
- Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill (2)
- Six o ther New Castle County long-term care facilities (1 death at each facility)
- Two other Sussex County long-term care facilities (2 deaths)
Statewide testing at standing health facility testing sites require a physician’s order or prescription to be tested (*Bayhealth patients will be pre-screened via phone without needing to see a provider first). These are not walk-in testing sites. Those without a primary care provider can call the DPH Call Center Line at 1-866-408-1899.
In New Castle County, individuals can call ChristianaCare at 1-302-733-1000 and Sussex County residents who do not have a provider can call the Beebe COVID-19 Screening Line at 302-645-3200. Individuals awaiting test results, should wait to hear back from their medical provider. The DPH Call Center does not have test results.
