Delaware continues to see an elevated rate of coronavirus cases as hospitalizations moved into the territory not seen since the pandemic’s early stages.
Preliminary results collected on Sunday by the Delaware Division of Public Health showed 402 new cases, down from 484 a day earlier. Cases have been running in the 400 to 500 range.
The total number of deaths is now 772. Two individuals from New Castle County, ages 66 and 79, died from Covid-19 complications.
DPH reported that 15 percent tested positive, up from 14.5 percent a day earlier under a seven-day rolling average.
Of total tests taken, 6.3 percent were positive in the seven-day rolling average, up two-tenths of a percent from the previous day. The total test figure takes into account people who have been tested more than once.
Hospitalizations surged during the holiday to 243 from 211 a day earlier. Hospitalization figures are closely watched, although the state’s hospitals are well below capacity. The number hospitalized reached 330 in the spring.
Hospitalizations are now four times the figure of the low point reported in the summer. An uptick in cases has continued since the Labor Day weekend and has accelerated during November.
The state is believed to have more than 400 beds available for Covid-19 patients, with some room for expansion and even field hospitals available.
However, any surge in hospitalizations could result in the postponement of elective surgeries and other hospital services.
For more data, including breakdowns by age, sex, race/ethnicity, at the statewide, county, and, in some cases, ZIP code or census tract level: https://myhealthycommunity.dhss.delaware.gov/locations/state
