COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations reach highs not seen in pandemic

Delaware ended the year by recording the highest number of new, daily positive COVID-19 cases on New Year’s Eve. 

On Dec. 31, the state saw 3,554 new positive cases, a high not seen at any point in the pandemic, according to the Delaware Division of Public Health. 

On New Year’s Day, the state saw 2,328 new positive cases alongside a record-breaking number of hospitalizations.

The new case and hospitalization highs come only a couple of days before Delaware enters a state of emergency on Monday. Cases are expected to continue to surge as testing centers remain overwhelmed following holiday gatherings, experts say. 

DAILY CASES:Daily positive COVID-19 cases up 77% from last week, Division of Public Health reports

As the Division of Public Health processes the large volume of lab results received over the past week, the number of daily positive cases currently displayed will be updated to show any additional positive cases reported on each day and added to the database. 

As part of the state of emergency, members of the Delaware National Guard will be able to serve as nurses and help ease the strain that the winter surge has placed on hospitals.

STATE OF EMERGENCY: Amid a COVID-19 surge, New Year’s gatherings discouraged. National Guard to support hospitals

The surge has led some Delaware colleges to shift their upcoming sessions online in an effort to mitigate transmission of the virus. On Dec. 31, Wilmington University announced that all of its locations will be closed and operating remotely starting Monday. 

Similarly, Delaware Technical Community College announced that college employees will return to work remotely during the week of Jan. 3. The college has not yet announced a decision regarding the format of classes for the spring semester. 

COVID-19 STRAIN:Delaware hospitals face COVID-19 stress, with many exceeding capacity

On Monday, the University of Delaware also will begin the first week of its winter session online before reevaluating the situation with the intent to return to in-person learning.