COVID-19 hospitalizations reached another all-time high in Delaware. The state reported 473 hospitalizations Monday with 55 cases considered critical.
The hospitalizations exceed the record set a few days prior, and far surpass the peak in the spring of 337.
But Gov. John Carney said Tuesday Delaware’s hospitals are not currently at risk of reaching capacity.
“Each of the hospital systems gave a level of comfort that they are able to meet the surge that they are seeing in their hospitals," said Carney. "They’ve been able to reduce elective surgeries and other procedures to make room for those who are coming into the hospital with serious COVID-19 symptoms.”
Delaware’s seven-day rolling average for new positive COVID-19 cases is now just over 771 - a level Carney says is too high.
And state health officials say Sussex County is now driving the elevated levels of cases.
Sussex saw an increased case rate of about 50% this past week. And nearly all Sussex zip codes are now reporting more than 500 cases per 100,000 people.
The state reports a less than average day of coronavirus spread Monday with 505 new positive cases, but Delaware saw a record of more than 12,000 cases in a single day last week.
Carney says the day to day numbers can be altered by how many test results come back on a given day.
“Don’t get too excited one way or the other about a very large number there above 700, or a very low number there," said Carney. "Generally those are a function of the ebb and flow of test results that we’re receiving from the tests that we’re doing.”
The state also announced five new deaths related to the virus. All five victims had underlying health conditions and two were residents of long-term care facilities.
Delaware COVID-19 death toll now stands at 991.
The average number of positive tests continues to hover below 10 percent.
And more than 26,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered statewide, though officials say that number could be as much as 10,000 higher than what is reported.
