Division of Public Health recommends mask-wearing as Covid cases rise, especially among those under 18

175
Coronavirus covid-19 pandemic in world, 3D illustration. Novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV . Concept of coronavirus quarantine. Pandemic stop Novel Coronavirus outbreak covid-19 2019-nCoV quarantine. (Coronavirus covid-19 pandemic in world, 3D illustration.
Advertisement

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised Delaware’s COVID-19 community levels to the High category (red) in all three counties on Friday.

The Delaware Division of Public Health also reported a troubling increase in the number of hospitalizations, especially among the young.

Over the past week, Delaware’s Covid-19 hospitalizations rose 22% from 129 to 165 hospitalizations, with 12 patients in critical condition as of July 29. 

An area of concern is the increase in the number of people under 18 who required hospital admission, including at least 16 children under the age of five. Vaccines are now available for all persons starting at six months of age.

Advertisement

The  Division of Public Health (DPH) is asking Delawareans to follow the CDC’s advice  at this level of community spread:

  • Wear a well-fitting mask in indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Stay home if you are sick and get tested if you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID-19. Visit de.gov/gettested for testing locations.
  • Get vaccinated and boosted when you are eligible to provide increased protection against severe illness and hospitalization.
  • If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease, self-test before being around them and wear a mask when indoors with them.
  • Turn to reliable sources for information and treatment options including de.gov/coronavirus.
  • If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, contact your health care provider to determine any additional precautions or treatments for which you may qualify.

The CDC believes that the emergence of the dominant BA.5 variant in the United States has fueled the rapid rise in cases since June and suggests it spreads more easily than previous forms of the virus.

As of July 5, more than 60% of Delaware’s sequenced test results that were positive for a variant strain of the virus were positive for BA.5. DPH officials say this underscores the need to get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible.

“Data indicates that while the current vaccines may not be as effective in protecting you from getting infected by this powerful variant, they are highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death,” says DPH Interim Director Dr. Rick Hong. “Further, the CDC has indicated that getting a vaccine now will not exclude you from getting the enhanced COVID-19 vaccine in the fall.  It’s in your best interest to get any booster for which you are eligible now and the enhanced vaccine in the fall to ensure the best protection both now and then.”

During the week of July 18 to July 24, 2022, 66% of Delaware’s total COVID-19 cases, and 75% of its hospitalized persons had not received booster doses.

You are eligible for a booster dose if you:

  • Are five and over and it has been five months since your second dose of Pfizer.
  • Are 18 and over and it has been five months since your second dose of Moderna.
  • Are 18 or over and it has been two months since your initial dose of Johnson & Johnson.
  • Qualified for an “additional/third” dose of Pfizer or Moderna because you have certain immunocompromising conditions.
  • You can get your second booster dose four months after receiving your initial booster if you are 50-plus  or are immunocompromised.

For more information about COVID-19, visit DPH at de.gov/coronavirus

For details about vaccines and boosters, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine for adults and de.gov/youthvaccinefor children 17 and under. 

 

Advertisement
Advertisement