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This page offers all of Delaware Public Media's ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak and how it is affecting the First State. Check here regularly for the latest new and information.

State officials watching COVID-19 case uptick downstate

State officials are concerned about COVID-19 case numbers in the lower part of the state.

 

"We're keeping a really close eye on Kent and Sussex right now."

Delaware Division of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay says positive COVID-19 cases are rising in Kent and Sussex Counties.

On the flip side, she notes the cases in Newark, Wilmington and New Castle have decreased since spikes in late August and early September.

Rattay pinpoints the areas where the numbers are currently moving up.

"We continue to see some higher levels of activity in Greenwood, Bridgeville, Seaford, and Delmar," said Rattay. "We also this past week have seen some increases in Milton and Selbyville as well as Felton and Frederica in Kent County."

 

Credit State of Delaware

She adds there will be plenty of testing sites in those areas in the next week so residents can easily get tested.

The one number officials are worried about is 107 current hospitalizations,  which Gov. Carney says are mostly downstate, especially Beebe Hospital. 

The state is keeping an eye on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations downstate.

Gov. John Carney says statewide overall hospitalizations are now at 107 - and  mainly from Sussex County.

"Several weeks ago, we had hit a low point of about forty or so," said Carney. "107 is a bit concerning and a lot of those cases disproportionately the number of those cases and hospitalizations are coming from the lower part of our state from Beebe in particular."

Overall, Delaware’s seven day averages show a persons testing positive rate of 6 percent and positive test rate of 2.9 percent of tests,  The state is also seeing an average of just over 132 new cases per day. 

Joe brings over 20 years of experience in news and radio to Delaware Public Media and the All Things Considered host position. He joined DPM in November 2019 as a reporter and fill-in ATC host after six years as a reporter and anchor at commercial radio stations in New Castle and Sussex Counties.