Delaware reached the sad milestone of 1,002 deaths from coronavirus complications, with no signs yet of a big spike in holiday-related cases.
Seven new deaths were reported as of Thursday night, pushing Delaware’s total number of Covid-related deaths past the 1,000 mark.
Passing away were three individuals each from New Castle and Kent counties, and one individual from Sussex County.
“On this day that we pass the heartbreaking milestone of 1,000 COVID-related deaths in Delaware, our hearts go out to all the families and friends who have lost a loved one to this disease,” said Delaware Division of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Even as our response continues to slow the spread of Covid-19 and to increase the pace of our vaccinations, we pause today to remember all of the precious souls lost to Covid-19. May their memory be a blessing to their families and friends.”
Their ages ranged from their 60s to their 90s, and three were residents of long-term care facilities.
New cases have settled into the 700 range, with 673 new positive cases as of Thursday night, bringing the overall total to 68,727. The number of daily cases remains several times the figure reported when in the summer. A series of measures “flattened the curve.”
However, reopening and the holiday period brought a surge in cases that continued during the fall and into the winter.
The cumulative breakdown by county: New Castle, 39,339 cases; Kent, 11,088 cases; Sussex, 18,142; county not yet determined 158.
The percentage of people testing positive has trended downward. in recent days with that figure at 23.5 percent, based on a seven-day rolling average, down four-tenths of a percent from the previous day, and 8.6 percent of total tests coming in positive in the seven-day rolling average, down six-tenths from the previous day).
Hospitalizations s also showed a downward trend at 451, down 15 from the previous day, with 56 in critical condition. While the number of people in the hospital is down from the peak earlier this week, the figure is still well above the spring high of more than 330.
For more data, including breakdowns by age, sex, race/ethnicity, at the statewide, county, and, in some cases, zip code or census tract level, click here for the MyHealthyCommunity portal.
