'It's time to double down': Delaware reports nearly 50% increase in COVID-19 cases
Though the omicron variant has yet to be confirmed in Delaware, the COVID-19 delta variant has led to a massive spike in cases with the state seeing about a 50% surge in cases in the last week.
This weekend, the state saw the highest number of new daily COVID-19 cases since January, according to state data. Hospitalizations have increased by 77% since Nov. 1, and the weekly average of positive tests is 8.5%, the highest it’s been since September.
“None of this is rocket science,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the Division of Public Health, during a Dec. 7 press briefing. “It’s time to double down.”
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Following Thanksgiving, Delaware has seen a significant increase in the rate of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Health officials warned residents in late November to be cautious again as the country battles the emergence of the omicron variant.
Nearly all ZIP codes in Kent and Sussex counties are experiencing COVID-19 positivity rates of 10% or higher. Many of these areas are seeing low vaccination rates, Rattay said.
The highest case rate last week was among 18- to 34-year-olds. For several months, this high case rate has primarily been seen among school-aged children.
It’s a “critical time” for children and adults to get their COVID-19 vaccinations, Rattay said, because it’s seen as the best and most effective way to fend off the virus.
Clinical trials, Rattay said, found the vaccine to be more than 90% protective against the virus in younger age groups. There are also no lasting side effects.
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Rattay specifically raised concern for the number of COVID-19 cases among children and their lower vaccination rates. Delaware is in the bottom half of all states in terms of pediatric vaccination rates.
Though children are experiencing lower rates of death and hospitalizations, many are still becoming very sick from COVID-19, Rattay said. Children are being hospitalized and dying from the virus. They can also suffer long-term effects from the disease.
Nine children were hospitalized within three days this month, she said.
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Gov. John Carney urged Delawareans during the briefing to wear a mask while in public indoor settings, but said he will not mandate it at this time.
"The best way to do this is to encourage people to take the protective measures,” he said. “Sometimes you get more pushback by mandates.”
Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 256-2466 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MereNewman.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware sees nearly 50% surge in COVID-19 cases as infections grow
