DOVER, DE (July 15, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) reports that COVID-19 cases experienced an uptick in the daily 7-day average for the percentage of positive tests since the previous monthly COVID-19 update released on June 17, 2022.  Since that time, Delaware has also exceeded 3,000 COVID-related deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 Community Levels data tracker, which was last updated on June 14, case levels in Kent County are considered high, while case levels in New Castle and Sussex Counties are listed as medium.

Many people are expressing concerns about getting vaccinated or boosted now, both because of reported lack of effectiveness against the circulating BA.5 variant and the expected updated vaccines in the fall. Regarding the BA.5 variant, approximately 67% of vaccines sequenced from mid-to late June contained a variant strain, which means that one-third contained the original strain of COVID-19 against which the vaccines are highly effective. Approximately 36% of variants sequenced were BA.5; BA.2 still accounted for more at around 50%. While the current vaccines may be less effective against protecting against infection if you get the BA.5 variant strain, they still offer some level of protection. The vaccines also remain highly effective at preventing more severe consequences like serious illness, hospitalization and death against all variants.  This is where getting a booster when eligible becomes particularly important. As immunity from your initial vaccine doses wane, the boosters become critical to increasing your antibody level and continue to provide your best chances at protection against serious illness. Some people who have not gotten either their first or second booster plan to just wait for the expected updated vaccines in the fall.  The CDC and White House advisors urge people not to wait, indicating that getting your booster now will not exclude you from getting one in the fall.  Better to have all the protection you can get now – and then by getting all the vaccine doses for which you are eligible.

You are eligible for a booster dose if you:

• Are 5+ and it has been 5 months since your second dose of Pfizer.
• Are 18+ and it has been 5 months since your second dose of Moderna.
• Are 18+ and it has been 2 months since your initial dose of Johnson & Johnson.
• Qualified for an “additional/third” dose of Pfizer or Moderna because you have certain immunocompromising conditions.
• You can get your second booster (fourth) dose four months after receiving your initial booster if you are 50+ or are immunocompromised.

Getting vaccinated and boosted when you are eligible remains one of the key ways to Stay One Step Ahead of COVID-19 in our state. View materials that are available for download or ordering free at covidmaterialsde.com.  .

COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations:

• Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 289,266*
• 7-day daily average of new positive cases: 306.7 an increase of 46.8 average new positive cases reported since June 17, 2022
• 7-day daily average for the percentage of total positive tests: 17.5 percentage points, an increase of 3.4 percentage points reported since June 17, 2022
• Hospitalizations: 127, current hospitalizations; critically ill: 14
• Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,008, an increase of 31 since last month, including 25 deaths from a review of vital statistics 

*Case and testing data are based on reporting of lab-confirmed COVID-19 tests only. The number of COVID-19 cases in the community is likely higher than what is reported.

Now some of our youngest Delawareans are eligible to be vaccinated. On June 18, the CDC gave final authorization to both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for children ages 6 months through 5 years old, making vaccines available to everyone ages 6 months and older. Additionally, the following week, the CDC authorized Moderna’s vaccines for children ages 6 – 17. Pfizer’s vaccine for this age group was already authorized. Just this week, the FDA granted full approval for Pfizer’s vaccine for ages 12-15. Information about the vaccine and where you can get your child vaccinated is available at de.gov/youthvaccine

COVID-19 Vaccinations:  

• Total number of doses administered in Delaware: 1,855,875
• Percentage of Delawareans 5+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 74.4% 
• Percentage of Delawareans 12+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 78.5%  
• Percentage of Delawareans 18+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 80% 
• Percent of Delawareans who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 70.2%  

All qualifying Delawareans should get vaccinated. For a location near you, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine. Delaware’s latest COVID-19 vaccination statistics can be found under the Vaccine Tracker dashboard at de.gov/healthycommunity.  

COVID-19 Case Vaccination Status Report:

The following reports capture a weekly breakdown of non-boosted cases, deaths, and hospitalizations for the time frame of July 04 – July 10, 2022.

1.  Non-boosted: Case – Hospital – Death

Long-term Care Statistics:  

As of Thursday, July 14, 2022, there have been a total of 4,150 positive COVID-19 cases involving long-term care residents, and 969 residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.  

Resources:  

Individuals with general questions about COVID-19 should call Delaware 2-1-1, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211, or email delaware211@uwde.org. Hours of operation are:  

• Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  
• Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  

Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.  

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.  

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Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by dialing 711 first using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, please visit delawarerelay.com. 

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

DOVER, DE (March 25, 2022) – The Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on COVID-19 statistics in Delaware, as of Thursday, March 24, 2022. As a result of declining COVID-19 cases, DPH is changing the frequency of these data releases from weekly to monthly.  The next data release will be April 22.  DPH will issue releases prior to that date with any important situational updates.  Data will continue to be updated daily on the My Health Community data portal – de.gov/healthycommunity. Additionally, DPH is issuing the following updates regarding testing and vaccinations in Delaware.

Changes in Federal Program May Now Impact Vaccinations for Uninsured

Last week, the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) announced that the HRSA COVID-19 Uninsured Program (UIP) would stop accepting claims for testing and treatment of COVID-19 due to a lack of sufficient funds. That change took effect earlier this week. Now the program will no longer reimburse providers for vaccinating uninsured individuals as of 11:59 p.m. on April 5, 2022. These changes may result in some COVID-19 testing and vaccine providers deciding not to offer free services to uninsured individuals. However, free testing and vaccination options remain available for those without insurance in Delaware.  Those without insurance can still access free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at Division of Public Health clinics. Those who have insurance are encouraged to seek testing and vaccinations at locations outside of DPH.  For a list of testing locations statewide visit de.gov/gettested. For a list of vaccination sites, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine. You are encouraged to contact the site in advance to verify insurance requirements.

DPH Standing Vaccine Sites to Close After March 31

DPH opened four standing vaccine sites statewide to accommodate large numbers of individuals who wanted to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Due to declining vaccination numbers at the sites, vaccine administration activities will shift to the DPH Clinics.  After March 31, the following sites will no longer offer vaccinations. Testing at these sites by Curative is also in the process of moving to other locations. You should confirm where your Curative testing will take place prior to going.

• Blue Hen Corporate Center: 655 S. Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901
• Georgetown Plaza: 19 Georgetown Plaza, Georgetown, DE 19947
• Canby Park: 1920 Maryland Ave., Wilmington, DE 19805
• University Plaza, 256 Chapman Road, Suite 100, Newark, DE 19702

COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations:

• Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 259,185
• 7-day average of new positive cases: 63.0, a decrease of 0.1 average new positive cases from last week.
• 7-day average for the percentage of total positive tests: 3.2%, an increase of 0.3 percentage points from last week.
• Hospitalizations: 35, a decrease of 11 from last week; critically ill: 2, a decrease of 3 critically ill case from last week.
• Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,837
• Total COVID-19 deaths reported since last week: 4, with another 21 coming from a review of Vital Statistics.

COVID-19 Vaccinations:

• Total number of doses administered in Delaware: 1,707,244
• Percentage of Delawareans 5+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 72.3%
• Percentage of Delawareans 12+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 76.5%
• Percentage of Delawareans 18+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 78%
• Percent of Delawareans who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 68.2%

All qualifying Delawareans should get vaccinated. For a location near you, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine. Delaware’s latest COVID-19 vaccination statistics can be found under the Vaccine Tracker dashboard at de.gov/healthycommunity.

COVID-19 Case Vaccination Status Report:  

The following reports capture a weekly breakdown of non-boosted cases, deaths, and hospitalizations for the time frame for March 14 – March 20, 2022.

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Long-term Care Statistics:

As of Thursday, March 24, there have been a total of 3,683 positive COVID-19 cases involving long-term care residents, and 931 residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.

Flu Update:

DPH reminds the public that flu season is not over.  There were 104 laboratory-confirmed cases reported the week of March 14-March 21. As of March 25, 2022, the most recent date for which flu statistics are available, there have been 901 laboratory-confirmed cases for the current season. The cases involved 521 individuals from New Castle County, 143 from Kent County and 237 from Sussex County. This number reflects only the number of lab-confirmed cases; the actual number of cases circulating statewide is likely higher as not all people with the flu seek treatment, and many cases are diagnosed through rapid test kits in a provider’s office versus a lab. There may be technical discrepancies of reporting numbers week to week due to retroactive reporting of cases.

All individuals 6 months and older may still get vaccinated against the flu if they haven’t already. Flu vaccines are available at pharmacies (including those in grocery stores), participating medical provider offices, Federally Qualified Health Centers (for their patients), as well as Division of Public Health clinics. DPH is also advising the public that the flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine.

For the latest information on the flu in Delaware, visit flu.delaware.gov.

Resources:

Individuals with general questions about COVID-19 should call Delaware 2-1-1, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211, or email delaware211@uwde.org. Hours of operation are:

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.

Delawareans 18 or older are encouraged to download COVID Alert DE, Delaware’s free exposure notification app to help protect your neighbors while ensuring your privacy. Download on the App Store or Google Play.

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.

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Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by dialing 711 first using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, please visit delawarerelay.com.

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

Familias Elegibles Serán Reembolsadas por el Costo de Comidas Que Habrían Sido Disponibles en Escuelas

NEW CASTLE (Marzo 2, 2022) – Los hogares de Delaware con niños afectados por el cierre de escuelas o la reducción en tiempo presencial o en asistencia a causa de la COVID-19 recibirán beneficios de asistencia alimentaria de emergencia bajo el programa de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios por la Pandemia (P-EBT). Los hogares elegibles recibirán beneficios de P-EBT por cada día escolar en el que su hijo/a no recibió comidas en la escuela durante el año escolar actual debido a un motivo relacionado con COVID.

La División de Servicios Sociales del Estado, en colaboración con el Departamento de Educación del Estado, emitirá los beneficios de P-EBT a partir del jueves 3 de Marzo. Los beneficios estarán disponibles en las tarjetas EBT de los beneficiarios a partir del Viernes 4 de marzo. Las fechas en el que se emitirán los beneficios a los hogares individuales depende de cuándo la División de Servicios Sociales reciba los datos de elegibilidad y asistencia de cada escuela. Algunos hogares pueden experimentar un retraso en la recepción de los beneficios y los beneficios pueden estar disponibles dentro de dos o más semanas a partir de la fecha de emisión mensual.

“Aunque las escuelas de Delaware han operado en persona durante la gran mayoría del año escolar, sabemos que los aumentos repentinos de Delta y Omicron, en particular, si tuvieron impacto con el aprendizaje en persona,” dijo la Secretaria del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Sociales (DHSS), Molly Magarik. “Hoy, la transmisión de COVID-19 ha reducido significativamente en todo nuestro estado, pero aún estamos viendo casos en personas de todas las edades, incluyendo estudiantes. Cuando estudiantes vulnerables faltan a la escuela por cualquier motivo relacionado con COVID, eso afecta su acceso a comidas gratuitas o de precio reducido. Esta asistencia temporal ayudará a las familias afectadas a que continúen en brindar una dieta nutritiva, la cual es esencial para la salud de sus hijos/as y que así mismo, fortalecezca la habilidad de aprendizaje de sus hijos/as.”

La Ley de Respuesta al Coronavirus de Families First (Familias Primero) de 2020 (PL 116-127), modificada por la Ley de Asignaciones Continuas de 2021 y la Ley de Otras Extensiones (PL 116-159), la Ley de Asignaciones Consolidadas de 2021 (PL 116-260) y la Ley de Plan de Rescate Estadounidense de 2021 (PL 117-2) permite que P-EBT se extienda hasta el año escolar 2021-2022. Delaware emitirá beneficios de P-EBT desde Agosto de 2021 hasta Junio de 2022 utilizando el siguiente cronograma:

Los/as niños/as inscritos/as desde prekínder hasta el grado 12 en una escuela de Delaware son elegibles para los beneficios de P-EBT para el año escolar 2021-2022 si se cumplen dos condiciones:

1. El niño/a está certificado/a ya sea directamente, a través de la elegibilidad categórica, o a través de una solicitud para recibir comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido o asiste a una escuela de Provisión de Elegibilidad Comunitaria (CEP) donde todos los estudiantes reciben comidas gratis a través del Programa Nacional de Almuerzo Escolar o Programa de Desayuno Escolar; y
2. El/La niño/a no puede recibir comidas gratis o a precio reducido en la escuela porque la escuela estaba cerrada o el/la niño/a tuvo una ausencia justificada o asistió a la escuela virtualmente debido a un motivo relacionado con COVID.

Los hogares recibirán $7.10 por cada día escolar que su hijo/a no recibió comidas en la escuela porque la escuela estaba cerrada o el/la niño/a tuvo una ausencia justificada o asistió a la escuela virtualmente debido a un motivo relacionado con COVID. El monto del beneficio P-EBT equivale a la tasa de reembolso federal para desayuno, almuerzo y refrigerio de $7.10 por niño/a por día escolar elegible. Los hogares recibirán beneficios de P-EBT para todos los/las niños/as elegibles en su hogar en emisiones mensuales. Los hogares no recibirán P-EBT por los días en que sus hijos asistieron a la escuela en persona y recibieron comidas en la escuela o por días de ausencia que no fueron por COVID.

Los beneficios de P-EBT se pueden usar para comprar alimentos en tiendas que acepten tarjetas de SNAP EBT. Los hogares de SNAP tendrán los beneficios de P-EBT cargados en sus tarjetas de SNAP EBT existentes. Los hogares que no reciben SNAP tendrán los beneficios de P-EBT cargados en la tarjeta P-EBT que se les envió en un año escolar anterior. Los hogares recién elegibles que no son parte del programa SNAP recibirán una tarjeta P-EBT por correo junto con detalles sobre cómo usar la tarjeta.

Los hogares elegibles recibirán una notificación por escrito en el correo sobre los beneficios de P-EBT para el año escolar 2021-2022. La elegibilidad de P-EBT se basa en la información recibida por las escuelas de Delaware.

Comuníquese con la División de Servicios Sociales al 1-866-843-7212 si tiene preguntas sobre el programa P-EBT de Delaware. La información actualizada de P-EBT se puede encontrar en el sitio web P-EBT.

Eligible Families Will Be Reimbursed for Cost of Meals That Would Have Been Available in Schools

NEW CASTLE (March 2, 2022) – Delaware households with children affected by school closures or reduced in-person hours or attendance caused by COVID-19 will receive emergency food assistance benefits under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. Eligible households will receive P-EBT benefits for each school day that their child did not receive meals at school during the current school year because of a COVID-related reason.

The State’s Division of Social Services, collaborating with the State’s Department of Education, will issue P-EBT benefits beginning Thursday, March 3. Benefits will be available on recipients’ EBT cards beginning Friday, March 4. The dates that benefits will be issued to individual households depend on when the Division of Social Services receives eligibility and attendance data from each school. Some households may experience a delay in receiving benefits, and benefits may become available within two or more weeks from the monthly issuance date.

“While Delaware schools have operated in person for the vast majority of the school year, we know that the Delta and Omicron surges, in particular, did impact in-person learning,” said Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik. “Today, the transmission of COVID-19 is significantly reduced across our state, but we are still seeing cases in people of all ages, including students. When vulnerable students miss school for any COVID-related reason, that impacts their access to free or reduced-price meals. This temporary assistance will help affected families continue to provide a nutritious diet, which is essential to their children’s health and, in turn, strengthens their children’s ability to learn.”

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (PL 116–127), as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act 2021 and Other Extensions Act (PL 116-159), the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 (PL 116-260), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (PL 117-2) allows P-EBT to be extended through the 2021-2022 school year. Delaware will issue P-EBT benefits for August 2021 through June 2022 using the following schedule:

Children enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade at a Delaware school are eligible for P-EBT benefits for the 2021-2022 school year if two conditions are met:

1. The child is certified either directly, through categorical eligibility, or through an application to receive free or reduced-price meals or attends a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school where all students receive free meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program; and
2. The child is not able to receive free or reduced-price meals at school because the school was closed or the child had an excused absence or attended school virtually due to a COVID-related reason.

Households will receive $7.10 for each school day that their child did not receive meals at school because the school was closed or the child had an excused absence or attended school virtually due to a COVID-related reason. The P-EBT benefit amount equals the federal reimbursement rate for breakfast, lunch, and a snack of $7.10 per child per eligible school day. Households will receive P-EBT benefits for all eligible children in their home in monthly issuances. Households will not receive P-EBT for the days that their children attended school in-person and received meals at school or for absent days that are not due to COVID.

P-EBT benefits may be used to purchase food at stores that accept SNAP EBT cards. SNAP households will have P-EBT benefits loaded to their existing SNAP EBT cards. Households that do not receive SNAP will have P-EBT benefits loaded to the P-EBT card that was sent to them in a previous school year. Newly eligible non-SNAP households will receive a P-EBT card in the mail along with details on how to use the card.

Eligible households will receive written notification in the mail regarding P-EBT benefits for the 2021-2022 school year. P-EBT eligibility is based on information received from Delaware schools.

Please contact the Division of Social Services at 1-866-843-7212 if you have questions about Delaware’s P-EBT program. Up-to-date P-EBT information can be found on Delaware’s P-EBT website.

DOVER, DE (February 25, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware as of Thursday, Feb 24, 2022.

COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations: 

• Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 256,337 
• 7-day average of new positive cases: 127, a decrease of 105.6 from last week. 
• 7-day average for the percentage of total positive tests: 5.0%, a decrease of 3.4 percentage points from last week 
• Hospitalizations: 98, a decrease of 45 from last week; critically ill: 11, a decrease of 2 from last week  
• Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,706 
• Total COVID-19 deaths reported since last week: 46, including 28 from a review of vital statistics records.   

COVID-19 Vaccinations:  

• Total number of doses administered in Delaware: 1,687,413 
• Percentage of Delawareans 5+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 71.5% 
• Percentage of Delawareans 12+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 75.9%  
• Percentage of Delawareans 18+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 77.4% 
• Percent of Delawareans who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 67.5%  

All qualifying Delawareans should get vaccinated. Individuals who qualify for a booster dose should get one as soon as possible. Booster vaccinations are available at any locations that offer the initial COVID-19 vaccine series. Visit de.gov/boosters for more information. For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine in Delaware, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine. Delaware’s latest COVID-19 vaccination statistics can be found under the Vaccine Tracker dashboard at de.gov/healthycommunity.  

COVID-19 Case Vaccination Status Report:   

The following reports capture a weekly breakdown of vaccination status for cases, deaths, and hospitalizations for the time frame for Feb. 14 – Feb. 20. 

Breakthrough Cases (cumulative since vaccinations began): 

• Total breakthrough cases: 21,924, or 3.68% of fully vaccinated individuals  
• Total breakthrough hospitalizations: 280 
• Total breakthrough deaths: 256 

A breakthrough case is defined as testing positive for COVID-19 after an individual has been fully vaccinated for two weeks or more.  

*Please note, these data may be updated as additional information is received. 

Long-term Care Statistics:  

As of Thursday, Feb 24, there have been a total of 3,126 positive COVID-19 cases involving long-term care residents, and 908 residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.  

Flu Update: 

There were 17 laboratory-confirmed cases reported the week of Feb. 13 – Feb. 19. As of Feb. 19, 2022, the most recent date for which flu statistics are available, there have been 658 laboratory-confirmed cases for the current season. The cases involved 441 individuals from New Castle County, 87 from Kent County and 130 from Sussex County. This number reflects only the number of lab-confirmed cases; the actual number of cases circulating statewide is likely higher as not all people with the flu seek treatment, and many cases are diagnosed through rapid test kits in a provider’s office versus a lab. 

All individuals 6 months and older are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against the flu if they haven’t already. Flu vaccines are available at pharmacies (including those in grocery stores), participating medical provider offices, Federally Qualified Health Centers (for their patients), as well as Division of Public Health clinics. DPH is also advising the public that the flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. 

For the latest information on the flu in Delaware, visit flu.delaware.gov. 

Resources:  

Individuals with general questions about COVID-19 should call Delaware 2-1-1, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211, or email delaware211@uwde.org. Hours of operation are:  

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  

Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.  

Delawareans 18 or older are encouraged to download COVID Alert DE, Delaware’s free exposure notification app to help protect your neighbors while ensuring your privacy. Download on the App Store or Google Play.  

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.  

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Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by dialing 711 first using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, please visit delawarerelay.com. 

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.