State Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay says coronavirus in Delaware is now in the “acceleration phrase,” with the elderly especially vulnerable to an uptick in cases.
She said the increase was not unexpected but remains an area of concern.
Her comments came during a Facebook Live event that focused on the elderly population in Delaware.
One big area of concern involves the elderly and not only people in long-care facilities who have accounted for many of the state’s 10 deaths from COVID-19.
The death toll in Delaware is higher on a population-adjusted basis than in Maryland, which had earlier recorded 18 deaths. The death toll in Maryland has since increased to 31, a number that is still lower on a population basis than Delaware’s figure.
Rattay said that health officials have also heard reports of elderly residents holding get-togethers, despite advisories to stay at home that came before emergency orders.
She also advised neighbors or others to report anyone known to be under quarantine who is leaving their home.
Residents have been advised to report non-compliant business by calling the non-emergency numbers of the Delaware State Police or local law enforcement agency.
According to Rattay, a recent study suggests that the number of people carrying the virus, even in long-term facilities, do not show symptoms.
One of the new hotspots for cases in Delaware is a portion of Coastal Sussex County, an area with a sizable population of elderly residents.