Another Delawarean has died from COVID-19 as coronovirus cases in the First State jumped again Monday.
State public health officials announced Delaware’s 15th COVID-19 death and first since Friday. The victim is an 84-year-old Kent County man male with underlying health conditions
State public health officials announced 110 additional cases of COVID-19 announced, pushing the state’s total since March 11th to 783.
Current hospitalizations due to the virus stand at 140 – up from 101 Sunday.
Gov. John Carney says the state is still struggling to obtain the tests and personal protective equipment it needs. He feels “reasonably good” about the number of ventilators it has – about 550. But he concedes there’s still uncertainty if that will be enough.
“We feel reasonably good depending on the severity of the surge here – and the number cases and hospitalizations," said Carney. "A lot of that also depends on or focus and our success in protecting senior citizens, particularly those in nursing homes. And we’ve redoubled our effort to do just that.
The state’s Department of Correction also reports 2 more correctional officers have tested positive for COVID-19 – bringing the total to four – plus three contract healthcare workers.
Carney says he is confident DOC is doing what’s necessary to protect officers, inmates and others, but the postive tests are a source of worry.
“It is a big concern," said Carney. "They have really leaned into it to provide extra precautions, particularly in monitoring staff. I’m told our correctional officers are very serious about all of this and staying safe and implementing the appropriate previsions as they do their job every day.
The latest positive tests involve an officer at Vaughn Correctional Center who was supervising an inmate at an area hospital and another assigned to the Court and Transportation Unit who was most recently at Young Correctional Institution last Wednesday. The first officer is self-isolating at home. The other is hospitalized.
Gov. Carney also expanded his emergency order to ban short-term rentals high through May 15th. That includes hotels, motels, vacation homes and condos.
There are exemptions for caretakers with family members nearby, health care providers, journalists, and Delawareans with public housing vouchers. Victims of domestic violence who need alternative shelter also are exempt.
Carney is also now banning door-to-door solicitation and closing pawn shops, video game stores, and other electronics retailers.
