More than a half-million people now fully vaccinated in Delaware

By Mike Finney
Posted 7/8/21

DOVER — There has not been a death announced due to COVID-19-related complications by the Delaware Division of Public Health since June 30, a span of eight days.

The news regarding the …

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More than a half-million people now fully vaccinated in Delaware

Posted

DOVER — There has not been a death announced due to COVID-19-related complications by the Delaware Division of Public Health since June 30, a span of eight days.

The news regarding the coronavirus remains mostly positive as Gov. John Carney intends to lift Delaware’s year-long-plus state of emergency order on July 13.

The emergency order was first signed by the governor on March 12, 2020, the day after the state announced its first COVID-19 case. The order has allowed Gov. Carney to set public restrictions in response to an effort to contain the virus.

State officials have said they remain committed to pushing vaccinations. At a mid-June press conference, Gov. Carney said, “People are saying, ‘It must be over, I don’t need to get vaccinated,’ when that’s not the case.

Delaware did manage to top the half-million plateau of people fully vaccinated in Thursday’s data as 500,240 have now gotten complete doses of the vaccine.
Due to technical issues, DPH data regarding COVID-19 was unable to be released on Wednesday.

However, between Tuesday and Thursday, DPH said there have been an additional 14 new positive COVID cases in Delaware, raising the total statewide to 109,914.

A total of 33 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, with four critically ill.

Trinity Healthrequires COVID-19 shots

Trinity Health announced on Thursday that effective immediately, the national health system will require all colleagues, clinical staff, contractors and those conducting business in its health care facilities be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The requirement applies to Trinity Health’s more than 117,000 employees in 22 states nationwide in an effort stop to the spread of the virus and keep all patients, colleagues and the broader communities safe. This includes Trinity Health’s 7,200 colleagues. Saint Francis Healthcare in Wilmington is part of the health system.

Since December 2020, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first vaccine for Emergency Use Authorization, Trinity Health has strongly encouraged vaccination for all colleagues and within the communities its various Health Ministries serve.

To date, the health system estimates nearly 75% of Trinity Health employees have already received at least one dose of the vaccine, and it now looks to close the gap with this new requirement.

“Safety is a core value at Trinity Health; part of our mission as caregivers is to protect the people we serve,” James Woodward, president and CEO of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, said in a statement. “Vaccination against COVID-19 is part of our multifaceted strategy to help stop the pandemic and protect our communities.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate more than 331 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the U.S.
The vaccines have proven to be safe and effective against symptomatic infections, hospitalizations and death with more than 99% of COVID-19 deaths today occurring in unvaccinated people.

“The science is clear — vaccination against COVID-19 is saving lives,” said Sharon Carney, MD, chief clinical officer for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic. “It’s the right thing to do. As a healthcare system and as caregivers, it is our responsibility to provide a safe environment for our colleagues, patients and communities.”

Employees at Trinity Health and its Health Ministries must meet a series of rolling deadlines, with most locations requiring them to submit proof of vaccination by Sept. 21.

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