A weekly report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms that Delaware faces a critical situation with coronavirus.
Among its recommendations are dining restrictions that have been harshly criticized by the Delaware Restaurant Association. Carney ordered a reduction in indoor dining capacity from 60 to 30 percent. The CDC did not offer recommendations on specific dining capacity reductions.
Taking such actions will allow for “greater and earlier resumption of business activity in addition to limiting cases, hospitalizations, and deaths,” the report stated.
Delaware officials have remained in touch with the CDC and have participated in a weekly phone call with the nation’s governors. Officials have also cited CDC advice when making decisions.
“Short term mitigation interventions, including restricting indoor dining and limiting or closing areas of congregation without masking, will be needed, as has been successful in the USA and is currently showing effectiveness in Europe,” the report stated.
While admitting that the above measures have limited success in limiting spread at private gatherings, the CDC suggested a stepped-up communications effort and extensive testing.
The 50-state report was obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, an investigative reporting organization. The Trump Administration has declined to release the reports that advise states on dealing with the virus. Findings sometimes went against the administration’s message that the virus was under control.
The report stated that mitigation measures are a “short-term sacrifice to protect the vulnerable as the U.S. bridges to the rapid vaccination of vulnerable populations over the next few months. Maximizing control of transmission now will also allow for greater and earlier resumption of business activity in addition to limiting cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.”
The CDC also pointed out that hospitalizations have risen to a level not seen since May. The number of people in the state’s hospitals rose above 240 in figures released on Monday.
In response, the Delaware Division of Public Health advised against any social gatherings attended by those outside the home; small parties are suspected as being a big factor in the uptick in new cases.
Findings in the report:
- All three counties in Delaware have moderate or high community transmission levels (yellow, orange, or red zones), with none having high levels of community transmission (red zone).
- During the week of Nov 9 – Nov 15, 13 percent of nursing homes had at least one new resident COVID-19 case, 38 percent had at least one new staff Covid-19 case, and five percent had at least one new resident Covid-19 death.
- Delaware had 288 new cases per 100,000 population, compared to a national average of 356 per 100,000.
- On average, between Nov 14 – Nov 20, 22 patients with confirmed Covid-19 and 25 patients with suspected Covid-19 were reported as newly admitted each day to hospitals in Delaware. This is an increase of 12% in total Covid-19 hospital admissions.
- The CDC said that mitigation efforts are inadequate or too recently implemented to impact significantly in many areas of the country.
- Extensive testing is needed to determine the extent of community spread.
- Ensure all K-12 schools follow CDC guidelines, including mask-wearing, and utilize the Abbot BinaxNOW tests to routinely test all teachers as another indicator of the degree of community spread.
The report stated that the CDC shares the “strong concern of Delaware’s leaders that the current situation is critical and that improved observance of social distancing measures is urgently needed to limit overrunning of hospital capacity and additional preventable deaths. The governor’s active measures are critical and are commended.”
The report went on to state that mitigation measures are a “short-term sacrifice to protect the vulnerable as the U.S. bridges to the rapid vaccination of vulnerable populations over the next few months. Maximizing control of transmission now will also allow for greater and earlier resumption of business activity in addition to limiting cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.”
In November, the CDC issued a study that showed Delaware’s stay at home order in the spring was effective in slowing the spread of the virus.
CDC study: Delaware Emergency order limited early spread of coronavirus
