Public health officials announced 57 more cases of COVID-19 Friday, bringing the state’s total so far to 450.
There have been two more deaths—a66-year-old woman who was hospitalized and a 91-year-old woman, each with underlying health conditions. Both deaths were associated with long-term care facilities in New Castle County.
The number of fatalities now stands at 14. State officials say eight of the deaths have been related to long-term care facilities, including six at the Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home near Newark.
The number of hospitalizations has risen to 63, up from 56 Thursday. Twenty-three people are currently critically ill.
Officials say 71 people have recovered from the virus.
Div. of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay said during a press conference Friday that the state’s lab in Smyrna has run more than 1,300 tests, and more than 8,000 specimens have been collected for testing through testing sites run by hospitals— one of which admittedthis week that results can take up to 12 days.
“Although testing is not where we want it to be, we are eagerly awaiting additional supplies, both the hospitals and public health to do more testing," Rattay said. "This testing has enabled us to have a better understanding of what is going on in our state.”
Gov. John Carney said he is optimistic.
“There’s been some breakthroughs in terms of the equipment used by ChristianaCare and hopefully by some of the hospitals downstate that they’ll be able to do the testing in-house and turn them around on a more timely basis," he said.
Rattay said she hopes “rapid tests” will make it to Delaware in the next day or so, if the FDA releases them.
The state’s public health lab in Smyrna is currently analyzing 60 to 100 tests per day, Stacey Hofmann, a spokesperson working in the state’s Joint Information Center for its COVID-19 response, said in an email Friday.
Hofmann said results from tests sent to the state lab take roughly 24 to 48 hours. However, with the lab continuing to test for other diseases such as pertussis, mumps and rabies, the turnaround time is dependent upon the volume of tests coming in that day.
The state is prioritizing testing in its public health lab to people who are hospitalized with symptoms, critically ill patients, symptomatic first responders or staff in facilities such as long-term care facilities, childcare facilities and correctional facilities, and those in high-risk settings where there are signs of potential outbreaks.
The Department of Correction announced Friday a contract healthcare worker tested positive. Officials say that person has already recovered. Late Friday, DOC announced Correctional Officer has tested positive.
And Amazon confirms a person connected to one of is warehouses in New Castle tested positive for the coronavirus.
"We are supporting the individual who is recovering," Amazon spokesperson Timothy Carter said in an email to Delaware Public Media. "We are following guidelines from health officials and medical experts, and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site."
State officials have confirmed “outbreaks” of cases at three long-term care facilities.
This story has been updated.
