By Tim Mastro

DOVER — The omicron variant has been found in Delaware, the Delaware Division of Public Health announced Friday — the same day the state recorded more than 1,000 new positive cases of COVID-19.

Additionally, Kent County set a one-day record for new cases.

DPH said it detected the latest COVID-19 variant through routine sequencing of test specimens at its lab. The agency discovered four cases of the variant, which was first reported in South Africa and has been identified in more than 70 countries and at least 35 states.

The four cases involve two adults in their 30s, a teenager and a child under the age of 10, according to DPH. All are residents of New Castle County. Two individuals were fully vaccinated and two were unvaccinated, DPH said.

DPH added none of the four had a known history of travel. The agency said case investigation and contact tracing to identify, inform and monitor anyone who was in close contact with the four individuals is ongoing.

Preliminary data suggests the omicron variant may spread more easily and quickly than previous variant strains of the virus. It is considered a “Variant of Concern” by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“With cases of the omicron variant detected in our surrounding states, it was only a matter of time until we detected this variant in Delaware,” said DPH director Dr. Karyl Rattay in a statement.

“We are closely watching the science around this new variant. While it is encouraging that most individuals infected with this strain have reported minor symptoms, we still have a lot more to learn about omicron. Therefore, we need to do what we know works to combat all strains of COVID-19: get vaccinated, get tested when appropriate, wear a mask in indoor public settings, socially distance from others and wash your hands regularly.”

DPH regularly monitors the presence of COVID-19 variants, including omicron, through routine genomic sequencing of test specimens at the DPH lab and several outside labs. DPH said genome sequencing is a public health surveillance tool used to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 variants and is not used to diagnose individuals with a specific strain of COVID-19, as treatment recommendations do not differ based on variant strains. COVID-19 tests meanwhile identify current infection of COVID-19, but do not identify a specific variant of the virus the individual might have.

Dr. Rattay said boosters may play a significant role in fighting the variant. Early results from both Pfizer and Moderna are pointing to booster doses being much more effective against the omicron variant than having two doses alone. However, Pfizer is showing up to 70% effectiveness against serious illness leading to hospitalization after just two doses of the vaccine. 

DPH has seen a significant rise in new positive cases over the past month, indicating a winter surge. DPH said the delta variant remains the dominant strain circulating in Delaware and the United States.

There were 1,079 new cases reported in DPH’s daily update on Friday — the third-highest one-day total of all-time behind 1,217 on Jan. 6 and 1,091 on Dec. 11, 2020. It was only the fifth time Delaware has recorded more than 1,000 new cases in a day with 1,047 on Dec. 18, 2020 and 1,009 on Jan. 8 as the other two instances.

Kent County posted 335 new cases in Friday’s update, breaking its previous record of 247 on Dec. 3, 2020. It also has the highest seven-day rolling average for positive test percentage of the state’s three counties at 12.7% compared to 10.8% in Sussex County and 8% in New Castle County.

The number of individuals hospitalized with the virus is up to 359, DPH said, which is the highest since 388 were hospitalized on Jan. 23. Of those currently hospitalized, 42 cases are considered critical.

DPH also announced three new COVID-19-related deaths on Friday, bringing the state’s total to 2,234. Two of the three were unvaccinated while the other was fully vaccinated, according to DPH.

The three deaths ranged in age from 32 to 78 years old. Two were from Kent County while the other was a Sussex County resident.

DPH encouraged vaccinations for those still not yet fully vaccinated and booster doses for those eligible to help protect Delawareans this winter. A list of vaccination sites is available at de.gov/getmyvaccine.

“While rising cases are a significant cause for concern, the public should understand that we have the public health tools in our toolbox to continue to fight this virus,” Dr. Rattay said.

“Our data continue to show that new positive cases and hospitalizations are predominantly occurring among those who are unvaccinated. Vaccines remain the most critical tool to protect us against severe disease.”