At Tuesday’s weekly Covid-19 briefing, Gov. John Carney linked parties and other festivities to a higher number of new cases and hospitalizations.
While the state’s percentage of positive cases remains below outbreak levels, new cases and hospitalizations have crept upward after a long period of decline.
Carney said concern over the rising number of cases nationwide had been voiced by the Biden Administration.
A couple of national dashboards now list Delaware as an at-risk state due to an increase in cases.
The Tuesday update from the Delaware Division of Public Health reported 180 new cases with a slight increase in the percentage of people testing positive and the percentage of positive tests.
Carney stopped short of increasing occupancy rates at restaurants and retail stores, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan took. The Maryland standards allow for full occupancy but, as a practical matter, are much lower since tables must be six feet apart.
Carney said he is a “little hesitant” but did not rule out loosened restrictions this week or next. According to Carney, the state is closely watching cases in neighboring states.
Travel and economic activity have increased, leading to concerns that faster-spreading Covid-19 variants are taking hold. Some states have taken away mask requirements.
The governor said Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested that states move slowly on loosening restrictions. Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Stare Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay said areas with elevated cases are in New Castle County, Newark, Hockessin-Greenville, Wilmington, and New Castle.
