In its weekly report, the Delaware Division of Public Health reported 86,098 positive cases of Covid-19 and a dozen people with the UK variant.
The seven-day average for the percentage of persons who tested positive for Covid-19 as of Thursday, Feb. 25, was 21.4 percent, an increase from 18.9 percent as of Thursday, Feb. 18.
Affecting the Delaware numbers is a recent surge in coronavirus cases within the University of Delaware community. (See story below).
The seven-day average for the percentage of total positive tests was 5.2 percent, an increase from 4.8 percent as of Tuesday, Feb. 16. There is a two-day lag for presenting data related to the percentage of positive tests to account for the time delay between the test date and the date that DPH receives the test result.
Also, 156 individuals are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Delaware, a decrease of 17 from the same period last week. Twenty-six of the hospitalized persons are critically ill, up 6 from last week.
A total of 1,418 Delawareans have died from Covid-19 complications. Since last week’s update, the state reported 75 additional deaths due in part to a review of death records.
The total number of individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranges from younger than 5 to 104 years old. Of those who have died, 705 were female, and 713 were male. A total of 692 individuals were from New Castle County, 295 were from Kent County, and 431 were from Sussex County.
To date, the Division of Public Health has identified 12 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 UK variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7, in Delaware through routine surveillance of test specimens. This variant is the same one that was first discovered in the United Kingdom.
The cases include 11 adults ranging in age from 18-65 and a child under 10. Eight individuals were from New Castle County, and four were from Kent County.
Virus mutation is common. Preliminary data suggests the UK variant and Brazilian and South African variants may spread more easily and quickly. That could lead to increased cases.
UD administrators warn of harsher measures if Covid-19 numbers don’t improve
