State provides weekly COVID update

The Delaware Division of Public Health is providing an update on COVID-19 in Delaware, as of 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20.

A total of 16,770 positive cases of COVID-19 among Delaware residents have been reported to DPH since March 11, including 8,839 individuals who are considered recovered. For the second week in a row, the number of new daily COVID-19 cases remained below 100 per day. The seven-day average for the percentage of persons who tested positive for COVID-19 increased slightly from 4.1 percent as of Aug. 13, to 4.4 percent as of Thursday, Aug. 20. In addition, 37 individuals are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Delaware, down one from 38 reported as of last Friday’s update. Ten of the hospitalized persons are critically ill, which is the same total reported last week.

In addition, DPH is also announcing that after once again completing a review of death certificate records from the Delaware Vital Events Registration System and comparing that information to epidemiological surveillance data, DPH epidemiologists have identified five additional COVID-19 deaths that occurred in July, but were not previously reported to DPH through standard reporting procedures. These deaths should be classified as confirmed or probable deaths, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition. Of the five deaths added to the state’s total death count, all are classified as confirmed due to there being a positive lab result of COVID-19 in DPH’s surveillance system.

As stated previously, the epidemiology team at the Division of Public Health shared its COVID-19 death data with DPH’s Bureau of Health and Vital Statistics. To ensure the highest quality of data, the bureau’s staff performed a review of the death certifications in the Delaware Vital Events Registration System that list either COVID-19, or SARS CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. The purpose of this review was to ensure that DPH is accurately capturing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths based on both epidemiology surveillance and death certificate data.

The Division of Public Health will continue to conduct periodic reviews of its Vital Records data to identify additional COVID-19 deaths, which could lead to ongoing increases in the state’s total number of COVID-19 deaths.

With the five additional COVID-19 related deaths added to the state’s statistics, 600 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranged in age from 21 to 104 years old. Of those who have died, 318 were female and 282 were male. A total of 297 individuals were from New Castle County, 109 were from Kent County, and 194 were from Sussex County.

To protect personal health information, DPH will not confirm specific information about any individual case, even if other persons or entities disclose it independently.

Additional updates:

Email results notification now available at Walgreens pilot testing sites – Beginning today, those tested through one of the three Walgreens pilot testing sites in Middletown, Dover and Bridgeville will be able to receive results via email from Labware when an email address is provided. This enhanced service will reduce the time for those tested to receive their test results.

Participating Walgreens locations currently include:

• New Castle County – Walgreens, 700 S. Ridge Ave., Middletown, DE 19709
• Kent County – Walgreens, 1215 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901
• Sussex County – Walgreens, 9202 Commercial Centre Drive, Bridgeville, DE 19933

Data quality review: To ensure the highest quality of data, the Division of Public Health’s epidemiology team is currently conducting a data quality review of the state’s COVID-19 case records to identify any duplicate records that may exist in the DPH surveillance system. While duplicate records are regularly identified and subsequently removed from the statistical file, this broad data review will ensure accuracy in the state’s data reporting. As a result of this review, the public may notice a decrease in the cumulative number of positive cases displayed on the My Healthy Community data portal over the coming days early next week. Members of the media and the general public are highly encouraged to view the “New Positive Cases” graph on the My Healthy Community dashboard for the most accurate data trends based on the date cases are reported to DPH.

Delaware COVID-19 data:

The latest Delaware COVID-19 case statistics cumulatively since March 11, provided as of 6 p.m. Thursday, August 20, include:

• 16,770 total positive cases
• New Castle County cases: 7,737
• Kent County cases: 2,529
• Sussex County cases: 6,235
• Unknown County: 269
• Females: 8,964; Males: 7,780; Unknown Sex: 26
• Age range: 0 to 104
• Currently hospitalized: 37; Critically ill: 10 
• Delawareans recovered: 8,839
• 201,238 negative cases

Generally, Delaware is now considering patients recovered after at least 24 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and/or improvement in symptoms, and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Individuals who tested positive who have not had any symptoms are considered recovered after at least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 test with no subsequent illness.

Long-term care statistics:

Information related to positive cases and deaths among residents at long-term care facilities will be updated weekly each Friday, using information reported as of 6 p.m. Thursday. There have been a total of 1,236 positive COVID-19 cases cumulatively involving long-term care residents, and 364 residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.

The locations and number of deaths involving residents of long-term care facilities are:

• Atlantic Shores Rehabilitation and Health Center, Millsboro (17)
• Brackenville Center, Genesis Healthcare, Hockessin (17)
• Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Wilmington (34)  
• Brandywine Living at Seaside Pointe, Rehoboth Beach (2) 
• Cadia Healthcare Broadmeadow, Middletown (10)   
• Cadia Healthcare Capitol, Dover (12)
• Cadia Healthcare Renaissance, Millsboro (8)
• Cadia Healthcare North Wilmington/Silverside, Wilmington (5)
• Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, Smyrna (11)
• Governor Bacon Health Center, Delaware City (1) 
• HarborChase of Wilmington, Wilmington (4)
• Harbor Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Lewes (20)    
• Harrison House Senior Living, Georgetown (40)
• Hillside Center, Wilmington (3)   
• Little Sisters of the Poor, Newark (11)   
• ManorCare Health Services, Wilmington (13)
• ManorCare Health Services, Pike Creek (20)
• Methodist Country House, Wilmington (4)   
• Millcroft, Newark (2)
• Milford Center, Genesis Healthcare, Milford (35)
• New Castle Health and Rehabilitation Center, New Castle (11)   
• Newark Manor Nursing Home, Newark (11)
• Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation, Wilmington (26)
• Pinnacle Rehabilitation and Health Center, Smyrna (24)
• Regal Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Hockessin (5) 
• Summit Assisted Living, Hockessin (3) 
• Sunrise Assisted Living, Wilmington (2)  
• Westminster Village, Dover (7) 
• Six other New Castle County long-term care facilities (1 death at each facility)

Additional demographic data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, including race/ethnicity, more age-specific data and rates information by ZIP code, and information on Delaware’s contact tracing efforts can be found on the Division of Public Health’s My Healthy Community data portal at de.gov/healthycommunity.

If you are sick with any of the following symptoms, stay home: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, chills, shaking with chills, loss of smell or taste, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, or headache or congestion or runny nose without a known cause such as allergies. Other symptoms such as abdominal pain or lack of appetite have been identified as potential symptoms related to COVID-19 and may prompt further screening, action or investigation by a primary care provider. If you are sick and need essential supplies, ask someone else to go to the grocery store or the pharmacy to get what you need. 

If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or have symptoms of illness, make sure to distance yourself from others, particularly vulnerable populations. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions – including serious heart conditions, chronic lung conditions, including moderate to severe asthma, severe obesity and those who are immunocompromised, including through cancer treatment – may have a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Information about testing events, including community testing sites and free-standing sites operated by the health care systems and hospitals, will be listed on the testing section of the Delaware coronavirus website at: coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing/.

Individuals who have complaints about individuals violating public gathering restrictions should contact state or local law enforcement. Concerns that a business may be violating operating restrictions should be directed to: HSPContact@delaware.gov. Questions related to business re-openings or operations as businesses reopen should go to COVID19FAQ@delaware.gov.