Delaware reports 31 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, taking the state total to 87. Monday's increase is the largest the state has seen in a single day.
There are new cases in all three counties.
To date 58 people have tested positive in New Castle County, 9 in Kent and 20 in Sussex.
Health officials say the ages of patients range from one to 90. 44 are male and 43 are female. Seven are hospitalized and three are critically ill.
The source of exposure for many cases is unknown, indicating the virus is spreading in Delaware communities.
"We know this is a startling increase for Delawareans to see," said Delaware Health and Social Services Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker in a statement. "It is an indication of spread that we expected to see, but it is also reflective of the state’s increased testing capacity which is leading to more results – both positive and negative."
The state started opening testing sites in Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Millsboro, Frankford and Seaford Monday to help test people with symptoms of COVID-19 for free. Patients need a prescription to be tested.
The rising number of cases is one reason Gov. John Carney cited for issuing a “stay-at-home” order Sunday and Public Health Emergency Monday. The stay-at-home order goes into effect Tuesday at 8 a.m.
Correction: The increase in confirmed cases from Sunday to Monday was 31, not 21.
