The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is reporting that there have been 215 total laboratory-confirmed cases in the state since March 11. Of the Delawareans diagnosed with COVID-19, 130 are from New Castle County, 25 are from Kent County, and 59 are from Sussex County. The total number of positive cases represents a cumulative total of cases, including individuals who are currently ill, those who are considered “recovered,” (9) and five deceased individuals.
The individuals who have tested positive with COVID-19 range in age from 1 to 90 (a statewide age range breakdown is available at de.gov/coronavirus). Thirty-one individuals are currently hospitalized. The source of exposure for many of these positive cases is unknown, which indicates community spread of the virus is occurring in the state.
DHSS also announced that a second care facility in Delaware has multiple coronavirus cases.
Six residents of a memory care unit of HarborChase of Wilmington have tested positive for COVID-19, including five who are now hospitalized, according to the Division of Public Health. The current census of that unit is 36. DHSS staff have worked with the assisted-living facility to ensure resident and staff safety. The source of the infection is under investigation.
“Responding to multiple cases of COVID-19 in such facilities is among our greatest concerns,” said DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a practicing family physician. “The populations who live in these facilities are at the highest risk for COVID-19, based on their age and underlying health conditions. Our DHSS team is working closely with the facility’s staff to make sure that the residents with COVID-19 are isolated from other residents, and that staff follow strict safety protocols regarding care of the individuals with the virus and also screening of all who enter the facility.”
HarborChase is the second care facility in Delaware to have an outbreak of coronavirus cases. On Thursday, DHSS announced the coronavirus-related death of an 86-year-old male resident of Little Sisters of the Poor Jeanne Jugan Residence in Newark and that six additional residents had tested positive for COVID-19. A seventh resident has since tested positive.
On March 13, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued aggressive measures for nursing homes nationwide to follow with respect to safety at their facilities:
Restricting all visitors, effective immediately, with exceptions for compassionate care, such as end-of-life situations;
Restricting all volunteers and nonessential health care personnel and other personnel (i.e. barbers);
Canceling all group activities and communal dining;
Implementing active screening of residents and health care personnel for fever and respiratory systems.
In cases of compassionate care, CMS advises that visitors will be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, and the visits will be limited to a specific room.
On March 16, DHSS issued further restrictive and specific
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has released a map that shows the COVID-19 Cases By Zip Code
Guidance to all facilities serving older adults, including screening protocols for visitors, requirements for disinfecting rooms, and reinforcing resident and staff hygiene.
Secretary Walker said as difficult as it is for loved ones not to visit residents of long-term care facilities during the coronavirus crisis, those visitor restrictions are in place to help keep vulnerable residents safe. DHSS’ Division of Health Care Quality (DHCQ) is continuing to work closely with long-term care facilities in the state to verify that such strong measures are in place at each facility, and if not, to assist them in implementing stronger protocols.
Patients are considered fully recovered seven days after the resolution of their symptoms (three days after symptoms resolve, they are no longer required to self-isolate at home; however, they must continue to practice extreme social distancing for the remaining four days).