Coronavirus metrics in Delaware have taken a slight upswing over the past month and officials are warning of variants of the virus locally.
Delaware is averaging 351 new cases per day with 155 hospitalizations from the virus statewide. It’s currently among the top 15 states for highest risk according to NPR.
State officials say Delaware has also confirmed 64 cases of the more contagious UK variant and 65 cases of the New York variant after sampling only a small number of positive cases.
State Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay says the percent positive for variants in Delaware is up from 9 percent to 36 percent among the sampled cases.
“This is just a sample of the cases in Delaware,” said Rattay. “We aren’t able to sequence all of the positive cases, but it does certainly tell you that we have the variants in our state.”
Rattay adds Delaware has also seen 70 so-called “breakthrough” cases and one death among people who have already been vaccinated for COVID-19.
Gov. Carney says he’s hoping for a downturn of cases with the coming of warmer weather and to reduce restrictions as the cases drop.
“The hope is that we’ll continue to see a downturn in cases, hospitalizations and percent positive and be able to reduce restrictions,” said Carney. “If things get worse, we’ll have to take that as it comes.”
The state is approaching having half of its total eligible population receiving at least one dose of vaccine.
