By Rachel Sawicki

Record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 cases in Delaware were reported for two days in a row before the weekend, and another 1,298 new positive cases were reported on Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve there were 1,587 new cases reported, the first time Delaware has surpassed 1,500 in one day.

These numbers do not yet reflect COVID transmission on Christmas Eve and Christmas. The Delaware Department of Public Health is urging anyone who feels sick, no matter the symptoms, to not host or attend any holiday gatherings, especially if it is indoors.

According to a DPH release from Friday, 37 total cases of the omicron variant have been reported in Delaware. All but four of those cases were reported during the week of Dec. 16-22, in which 280 variant positive samples were identified. The remaining 247 cases were identified as the delta strain.

Variant monitoring by The Delaware Public Health Laboratory and other laboratories is done by genomic sequencing of test specimens, which is a public health surveillance tool used to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 variants. However, it is not used to diagnose individuals with a specific strain of COVID-19, as treatment recommendations do not differ based on variant strains, and COVID-19 tests identify current infection of COVID-19, but do not identify a specific variant of the virus the individual might have.

DPH says that 37 deaths have been reported since just last week, including 19 from a review of vital statistics records in which 74 percent of deaths were from unvaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated individuals make up 78 percent of hospitalizations and 73 percent of total COVID cases. Since vaccinations began, 1.7 percent of fully vaccinated individuals make up the total 9,858 breakthrough cases.

Over the weekend, 9,264 more vaccine doses were administered across the state, including 5,261 booster/additional doses. The percentage of Delaware’s total population with at least one dose is slowly creeping up to 70 percent, currently sitting at 68.4 percent.

There are several vaccine mobile units in underserved communities this week, led by medical staff from the Delaware National Guard and DPH officials.

On Monday, these units are open at the Wilmington Housing Authority, 1802 N. West St., Wilmington, from 10 a.m. to noon, Kennedy Apartments, 2800 N. Tatnall St., Wilmington, from 1-3 p.m., and Philadelphia Pentecostal Holiness Church, 13724 S. Old State Road, Ellendale, from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m.

Tuesday, vaccine units will be open at DeLaWarr State Service Center, 500 Rogers Road, New Castle, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Smyrna State Service Center, 200 S. DuPont Blvd., Suite 100, Smyrna, 9 a.m. to noon, and Laurel State Service Center, 31039 North Poplar St., Laurel, 9 a.m. to noon.

Vaccines on Wednesday will be available at Claymont State Service Center, 3301 Green St., Claymont, 10 to 3 p.m.

On Thursday, vaccine mobile units will be open at Appoquinimink State Service Center, 122 Silver Lake Road, Middletown, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Smyrna State Service Center, 200 S. DuPont Blvd., Smyrna, 9 a.m. to noon, and Laurel State Service Center, 31039 North Poplar St., Laurel, 9 a.m. to noon.

For a full list of community-based events statewide, including those organized by vaccinating partners and community groups, go to here.