Delaware reports 35 COVID-related deaths since Dec. 29

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DOVER — Thirty-five COVID-19-related deaths were reported to the Delaware Division of Public Health since Dec. 29, the agency announced on Friday.

DPH said the delay in announcing the 35 new deaths was due to the large number of COVID-19 test results and positive cases reported over the past 10 days and the need for epidemiology staff to focus on processing that data.

DPH also announced nine additional deaths from a review of Vital Statistics records from November and December. The combined 44 COVID-19-related deaths brings the state’s total to 2,330.

Of the 44 new deaths, 35 were unvaccinated (79.5%) and nine were fully vaccinated. The individuals ranged in age from 31 years old to 97 years old.

Only one of the 44 did not have any underlying health conditions. Three were residents of a long-term care facility. There have been 879 total deaths among long-term care center residents, which represents 37.7% of Delaware’s total number of COVID-19-related deaths.

Eighteen of the 44 were from New Castle County while 16 were Sussex County residents and 10 were from Kent County. New Castle County, the state’s most populous county, has posted the most COVID-19-related deaths with 1,130 followed by Sussex County’s 697 and Kent County’s 503.

Delaware set a record for COVID-19 hospitalizations for the eighth day in a row as 692 individuals are hospitalized with the virus, according to DPH’s daily update on Friday. Of those hospitalized, 63 cases are considered critical.

Hospitalizations have increased by more than 200 in the eight days after being at a then-record 485 on Dec. 30. Delaware’s previous COVID-19 hospitalization record before the most recent surge was 474 set on Jan. 12, 2021.

All hospitalization data via DPH is as of Thursday at 6 p.m.

DPH also reported 2,710 new positive cases in Friday’s update, bringing the state’s total to 198,507. Delaware is averaging 2,505.4 cases per day over the last week as of Thursday at 6 p.m.

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