Both deaths in the past week were from individuals not fully vaccinated
As expected, the faster-spreading Delta (India) variant is now the most widespread coronavirus strain in Delaware, according to the weekly report from the Delaware Division of Public Health.
The Delta variant has been blamed for an uptick in cases and hospitalizations in Delaware and other states. However, the UK Alpha variant’s numbers have been largely unchanged of late.
The variants listed below are based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list of variants of concern and variants of interest. The numbers are based on a sampling of positive tests.
| Variants of Concern | Variants of Interest | |||||
| Variant | Origin | # of Cases | Variant | Origin | # of Cases | |
| Alpha/B.1.1.7 | United Kingdom | 962 | Eta/B.1.525 | UK/Nigeria(formerly NEW York, US) | 2 | |
| Beta/B.1.351 | South Africa | 1 | Iota/B.1.526/B.1526.1 | New York, US | 318 | |
| Gamma/P.1 | Brazil | 56 | Epsilon/B.1.427 | California, US | 10 | |
| Delta/B.1.617.2 | India | 31 | Epsilon/B.1.429 | California, US | 11 | |
The seven-day average of new positive cases increased to 39 as of Thursday, July 15. New cases had fallen into the 20 range earlier in the summer.
As of Tuesday, July 13, the seven-day average for the percentage of positive total tests was 1.8%, a slight increase from 1.7% as of Tuesday, July 6.
In addition, 37 individuals are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Delaware, an increase of six from last week. Earlier hospitalizations had fallen below 20.
Four of the hospitalized persons are critically ill, down two from last week.
Two deaths from Covid-19 complications were reported in the past week. Neither individual was fully vaccinated. A total of 1,697 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from Covid-19.
Vaccinations:
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 71.1% of Delawareans ages 18 or over have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
As of July 16, 1,034,119 administered doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been reported to the state’s immunization information system, DelVAX. Among Delawareans 12+, 516,065 have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 460,420 Delawareans are fully vaccinated.
Delaware’s latest COVID-19 vaccination statistics can be found under the Vaccine Tracker dashboard at de.gov/healthycommunity.
Breakthrough cases
To date, 460,420 Delawareans have been fully vaccinated. Of those getting the vaccine, there have been 456 breakthrough cases of Covid-19, less than one-tenth of 1 percent.
A breakthrough case is defined as testing positive for Covid-19 after an individual has been fully vaccinated for two weeks or more – although it does not mean that the infection actually occurred after vaccination.
Twenty-two of the reported breakthrough cases involved hospitalizations, and six individuals passed away, although it does not mean Covid was the cause of death.
