By Tim Mastro

DOVER — Delaware is experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, but both remain significantly lower than during the winter surge, the Delaware Division of Public Health said in its monthly update, released late Friday night.

The number of individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in Delaware is at its highest level in the last 30 days. DPH reported 50 hospitalizations which is the most since March 12. Hospitalizations have remained below the 100 mark since Feb. 25 after the omicron variant caused record highs this winter.

DPH also reported 281 new positive cases of the virus on Saturday — the highest one day total since Feb. 16. The state averaged 169.6 new cases per day over the last week which is nowhere close to the winter surge when the seven-day rolling average was above 1,000 cases per day for nearly the entire month of January.

DPH announced nine additional COVID-19-related deaths on Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 2,905.

In its monthly update, DPH said it “continues to encourage Delawareans to protect themselves and their families by using the tools they already have available to them to stay one step ahead of COVID-19

• Stay up to date with your vaccines. Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible. Vaccines are readily available. Find a vaccination site here.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19. Some symptoms mirror those of flu, which remains active in Delaware, and seasonal allergies. Be sure. Find a testing location or where to get a home test kit here.

• If you test positive for COVID, check with your health care provider to determine if you should get treatment for COVID-19.

• Mask up in indoor public settings if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, or have a weakened immune system, or if you live with someone who does.”