Gov. John Carney says coronavirus cases tied to higher education have pushed the rate of up positive tests from previous levels.
Carney spoke Tuesday at the weekly press briefing on Covid-19.
On Wednesday, Delaware reported a 7.2 percent rate of positive tests, up from the four and a half percent range of a few weeks ago. That translates into 109 cases a day, well above the 50 the state would like to see.
The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals rose to 72, up 64 a day earlier.
Carney said off-campus events appear to be a factor in the rising positive case count.
The University of Delaware has reported 300 cases since the first of September. Testing at UD has shown low rates of positives at UD, although the numbers have not necessarily showed up in statewide statistics, Carney said.
Delaware State University has not posted a Covid-19 case dashboard.
State Division of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay said zip codes now under the microscope, due to a rising number Covid-19 cases include zip codes around Wilmington and New Castle as well as 19711. That zip code includes University of Delaware students.
The state is working to smooth out case numbers based on reporting from various entities.
UD reported 36 new cases on Tuesday, a sizable number when lumped in with overall figures for Delaware.
State officials working with the University of Delaware on testing and enforcement of restrictions on gatherings that are believed to contribute to the spread of the virus.
Carney reported the first round of applications for the DE Relief Grants program accounted for more than half of the $100 million in state and federal funding set aside for the program.
Signs point to the state program serving a higher percentage of minority-owned businesses than the federal Paycheck Protection Program, Carney said. The PPP program, administered by private lenders, was criticized for not reaching enough minority-owned businesses.
The Relief Grant program is aimed at assisting businesses without owners taking on additional loans.
At the briefing, Carney highlighted a campaign to convince Delawareans to get flu shots by getting a vaccination from Delaware Division of Public Health Director Rattay. State health officials are worried that a combination of flu and Covid-19 cases could overwhelm the state’s hospital system.
