By Tim Mastro

DOVER — Delaware’s COVID-19 hospitalizations set another low for 2021, according to Friday’s report by the Delaware Division of Public Health, falling to 156 as of Thursday at 6 p.m.

The total of 156 is the lowest COVID-19 hospitalizations have been since Nov. 17 of last year. It is a decrease of eight compared to the day prior and the second consecutive day the state has set a yearly low for COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Of those currently hospitalized with the virus, 26 cases are considered critical.

Delaware’s seven-day average of new positive cases decreased to 274.7 cases per day this week — the best mark since it was at 254.6 cases per day on Nov. 11. The state added another 301 positive cases in Friday’s report, bringing the all-time total to 86,098.

The DPH announced it identified 12 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7, in Delaware through routine surveillance of test specimens as of Thursday. This variant was first discovered in England in December and is commonly referred to as the UK Variant.

The cases involving this variant, include 11 adults ranging in age from 18 to 65 years old, as well as a child under the age of 10. Eight of the 12 variants were found in individuals from New Castle County and four were from Kent County.

Twelve newly reported COVID-19-related deaths were announced by the DPH on Friday, including nine from a review of Vital Statistics records from January and December.

A total of 1,418 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19, according to the DPH’s data as of Thursday at 6 p.m. The total number of individuals who have suffered COVID-19-related deaths ranges in age from younger than 5 to 104 years old. Of those who have died, 705 were female and 713 were male.

New Castle County has recorded the most deaths with 692, followed by 431 in Sussex County and 295 from Kent County.

Long-term care residents have made up 697 of the state’s 1,418 COVID-19-related deaths (49%).

As of 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, 204,389 administered doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been reported to the state’s immunization information system DelVAX. A total of 227,520 doses have been delivered to the state and an additional 45,305 doses have been delivered as part of the Federal Pharmacy Program.

The DPH issued a reminder Friday that the COVID-19 vaccination event for Delaware child care providers at Dover International Speedway today are for second doses and are by appointment only. Anyone who does not have an appointment will be turned away. No first doses will be given out at the event.