By Tim Mastro

DOVER — Gov. John Carney and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services announced a second round of funding through the Health Care Relief Fund to support Delaware health care providers through the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The more than $30 million fund will “support providers in many aspects of the health care industry that have been on the front lines fighting COVID-19 in Delaware,” the state said.

Providers eligible to receive money from the fund include home health care agencies, behavioral health service providers, eligible hospital systems, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, as well as providers who support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Since the beginning of this crisis, Delaware’s health care workers have supported many of the most vulnerable Delawareans. Now, as we begin this period of recovery, we owe them our continued support,” said Gov. Carney in a statement. “This Health Care Relief Fund will support health care providers as they make the transition to a recovery footing.”

Funding from the Health Care Relief Fund can be used to support COVID-19 related investments, including technology upgrades, purchases of personal protective equipment (PPE), and environmental modifications in health care facilities, the state said.

The deadline to apply for the funding is July 16, with disbursements starting after that date. To qualify for the funding, all goods must be received and all work must be finished by Oct. 31, 2021.

Delaware’s first round of funding was offered to eligible providers in fall 2020. Questions about the Health Care Relief Fund can be emailed to: DHSS_CaresQuestions@delaware.gov.

“Health care providers faced serious impacts because of the COVID-19 pandemic as they balanced providing crisis services with their regular services during that uncertain period,” said Molly Magarik, DHSS secretary. “Now, we are pleased to provide this continued support as these providers begin the transition back to regular services. We know that investments in PPE, technology upgrades to support telehealth services and environmental modifications are all important because COVID-19 cases continue to happen in our state, albeit at vastly reduced levels.”

The Delaware Division of Public Health reported 26 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in Thursday’s update, which reflects data as of Wednesday at 6 p.m. The 26 hospitalizations ties the second-lowest number since the DPH began reporting hospitalization data in April of 2020.

There were 54 new positive cases of the virus — the second-highest total in the last 14 days. This brings the total amount of positives to 109,470.

No new COVID-19-related deaths were announced as that number remained at 1,679.

Delaware is up 68.6% of adults who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This percentage comes from the CDC’s Vaccine Tracker and differs from the DPH’s tracker because it includes Delawareans who have been vaccinated in other states and vaccinations Dover Air Force Base and Veterans Affairs, who do not report their statistics to the DPH.