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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 reports COVID-19 cases connected to teens at senior week

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

State health officials are warning about a possible flare–up of COVID-19 cases among teens participating in senior week this month.

 

The Division of Public Heath says at least 3 teens among a dozen staying at a Dewey Beach rental have tested positive for the virus.

 

DPH notes that group also attended several crowded gatherings in Rehoboth, possible exposing as many as a hundred or more other people.

 

DPH is conducting contact tracing to reach those possibly exposed and have them quarantine.

 

State health officials say they are not currently aware of any other COVID-19 cases connected to senior week, but strongly recommend anyone who participated in those activities, especially in Dewey and Rehoboth Beach, to consider themselves at risk and get tested.  That’s especially true if they lived or stayed with a group, or attended a large gathering.

 

"The risk of COVID-19 spread among other young people, of different households, living in group settings without social distancing or wearing face coverings is real, and we will have no way of tracing all of the individuals they may have exposed because they likely don’t know everyone’s names,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay in a statement.  “Just because we are reopening, does not mean the virus is gone. It does not mean the risk is gone.  It does not mean things are back to normal.”

 

DPH also suggest families whose children participated in senior week activities at the beach consider rescheduling any planned graduation parties for 14 days after they left senior week. 

 

If they hold them, they suggest limiting the teens’ exposure to vulnerable family and friends such as grandparents or family members with chronic health conditions.

“This incident underscores the importance of wearing face coverings and social distancing,” said DPH Medical Director Dr. Rick Hong in a statement.  "We continue to ask the public to follow basic infection control and prevention measures.  It’s critically important for people to remember - the more interactions people have with each other, especially when not social distancing and wearing a face covering, the higher the risk of infection.”

Tom Byrne has been a fixture covering news in Delaware for three decades. He joined Delaware Public Media in 2010 as our first news director and has guided the news team ever since. When he's not covering the news, he can be found reading history or pursuing his love of all things athletic.