By Tim Mastro

DOVER — The Delaware Division of Public Health reported 558 new positive cases of COVID-19 in Thursday’s update — the largest one-day total since late January, when the pandemic was coming down from its peak.

The 558 cases were the most since there were 622 positives Jan. 29. It brings Delaware’s total number of coronavirus cases to 120,727.

Hospitalizations also increased, up to 244 with 40 considered critical, according to DPH. The last time the state had more than 240 hospitalized with COVID-19 was Feb. 11.

One new COVID-19-related death was reported — a 70-year-old from New Castle County who was not vaccinated. Delaware has recorded 1,888 COVID-19-related deaths over the course of the pandemic.

All statistics related to cases, hospitalizations and deaths are as of Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Data related to what percentage of the new hospitalizations and cases are vaccinated is released every Friday by DPH.

The seven-day rolling average for percentage of positive tests is at 7.5%. This mark is as of Monday at 6 p.m. due to a two-day lag to account for the delay between the date of the test and the date DPH receives the result.

All three Delaware counties are above the World Health Organization’s recommended seven-day rolling average of 5%. Sussex County has the highest percent-positive mark with 9.5% for the last week, followed by Kent County at 9.4% and New Castle County at 6.4%.

The ZIP code with the highest percentage of positive tests is Harrington, which recorded a mark of 18.5% for the week of Aug. 21-27 — the most recent available data. Greenwood (14.7%), Frederica (14%), Felton (13.8%) and Laurel (13.1%) also had elevated percent-positive marks.