By Tim Mastro

DOVER — In-person contagious cases of COVID-19 in Delaware’s schools decreased during the week of Jan. 22-28 after setting a record high the week prior.

The Delaware Division of Public Health reported 923 cases among students and an additional 183 among staff for that time period, the most recent available dataset. Of those student cases, 883 were in public schools while 40 were in private schools. Public schools also accounted for 181 of the 183 staff cases.

The total of 883 public school cases represents 0.63% of the estimated 141,040 students in those schools this year. While it is down from the 1,323 cases reported the week prior (0.94%), it is still the second-highest total this academic year.

For private schools, their case total of 40 represents 0.25% of their estimated 15,754 students.

The state has recorded 8,565 total in-person contagious cases among public school students, 6% of the estimated 141,040, so far this academic year, with 1,887 more among staff. This includes 19 districts and 23 charter schools, which are part of the public school system.

Private schools have posted 443 cases this school year, which is 2.8% of the estimated 15,754 students, plus 98 among staff.

DPH began tracking in-person contagious case data in schools on Sept. 4, 2021.

The data, posted on the state’s coronavirus website, only includes in-person contagious cases, which are defined by DPH as “persons who were present at school as far back as 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms (or test date if no symptoms). The source of infection of these cases cannot be attributed to schools, nor is it known that they are the source of infection to others in schools.”

No districts reported more than 100 in-person contagious cases during the week of Jan. 22-28. The closes was Milford with 99 cases — 2.2% of its estimated 4,376 students.

Delmar, who has an estimated 1,439 students, was the only public school district with zero cases.