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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.

Sussex County resident tests negative for COVID-19

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Sussex County resident under investigation for the novel coronavirus disease this week has tested negative, public health officials announced Thursday. No other Delawareans are considered "Patients Under Investigation" for the virus at this time.

So far nine individuals in Delaware have been tested for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus disease. All tests have come back negative.

 

Of the individuals tested, five were in New Castle County, two were in Kent County and two were in Sussex. The two Kent County results are awaiting confirmation from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

State public health officials are considering people who display symptoms of COVID-19 and have a travel history risk “Patients Under Investigation.”

The state’s public health laboratory in Smyrna was approved by the CDC to begin testing people for COVID-19 Monday.

“Now that the State Public Health Lab has the ability to conduct testing, we anticipate the possibility of daily tests being run,” said Andrea Wojcik of the Delaware Division of Public Health’s Office of Health and Risk Communication in an email Wednesday.

The state has also launched a call center to answer questions from the public, schools, medical providers and state agencies. It is open 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. 

State public health officials are asking travelers who have returned from China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran to contact the Division of Public Health, whether or not they are experiencing symptoms of the disease. Those include fever, cough or shortness of breath.

Officials are advising asymptomatic returning travelers to stay home from work, school or other public gatherings during the 14-day period. 

Multiple deaths linked to COVID-19 have been reported in California and Washington state. Cases have been confirmed on the East Coast, including in New Jersey, but no one in Delaware has tested positive for the new coronavirus disease yet. 

The state is currently monitoring 16 asymptomatic individuals who have recently returned from countries with a Level 2 or higher federal travel advisory, as of Thursday. 

The University of Delaware cancelled a study abroad program under which 22 students were in Italy, which is under a Level 3 Travel Health Notice from the CDC. 

A UD spokesperson said the school is watching a study abroad program in Japan for possible cancellation if the travel advisory there is upgraded. Japan is currently under a Level 2 Travel Health Notice.

The state Division of Public Health’s novel coronavirus call center number is 1-866-408-1899. Individuals can also submit questions by email to DPHCall@delaware.gov.

This story has been updated.

Sophia Schmidt is a Delaware native. She comes to Delaware Public Media from NPR’s Weekend Edition in Washington, DC, where she produced arts, politics, science and culture interviews. She previously wrote about education and environment for The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, MA. She graduated from Williams College, where she studied environmental policy and biology, and covered environmental events and local renewable energy for the college paper.
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