COVID-19 cases are slowly rising in Delaware, with young adults pushing the numbers higher, according to state officials.
"We're seeing a little of a surge here in Delaware which is pushing our cases up about 10% over where we were a week or two ago," said Gov. John Carney.
Carney is concerned about the state’s rising COVID numbers. The seven day average now shows a positive test rate up to 7.2 percent with 109.3 cases per day.
"We want that 109 number to be down below 90, and significantly below that over time," said Carney,
Carney points to parties and gatherings featuring mostly college students or college age students as driving the numbers up.
"Mostly centered - we think - in off-campus social activity, parties and the like that are beyond the allowances certainly in the city of Newark, for the number of people gathering inside of a private home."
The governor says his office is working with the University of Delaware, the city of Newark, and Delaware State University to better combat these unauthorized gatherings to prevent any outbreaks.
Current hospitalizations stand at 64, up from a previous low of 40.
Carney wants to make sure that number is low because flu season is beginning and the hospitalizations that brings could make things tougher for the state.
Delaware is not facing significant PPE supply issues, other than a need for medical gloves. The state is down to a one-to-two week supply, but more are on the way in the next two weeks.
And Delaware Emergency Management Agency Director AJ Schall says more testing to help kids get back to school is also on the horizon.
"We are working with New Castle County, as well as 13 school districts, to do on-site testing - not at every school - but for each district over the course of the next four to five weeks,: said Schall. "We want to make sure students have the ability to get tested at a place they're comfortable prior to going back to school to get a great foundation and baseline."
Schall adds that Curative, which helps administer COVID-19 tests in the First State, is updating its website, and will provide a trailer next week to offer appointments by registration.
