This state graph shows Delaware’s new COVID-19 cases declining
With Delaware moving closer to a post-pandemic world, with restaurants allowed to open to capacity and vaccinated people allowed to go without masks in most cases, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Delaware continues to drop as vaccinations rise.
About 1,000 people have been identified as having a variant form of COVID-19 through random testing by the Delaware Stage Lab, which this week found its first case of the Indian variant that is killing thousands of people in that Asian country.
Because the state only randomly checks a small number of positive tests for variants, there likely are hundreds or more cases of the variants. This week it checked 263. The majority of the variant cases are found in New Castle County and are the United Kingdom B.1.1.7n strain, followed by the New York B.1.526 strain.
The variants are believed to be more infectious and they are one reason the state is urging people to be vaccinated as quickly as possible.
The Delaware Division of Public Health said the seven-day average of new positive cases dropped to 115.3 as of Thursday, May 20. A month ago, that was close to 30o.
The seven-day average for the percentage of persons who tested positive was 13.8% this week, a a decrease from 15% a week ago. The seven-day average for the percentage of total tests that were positive was 3.6%, down 3.8%.
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Free rides to clinics
The state has contracted with two vendors, DinesteHealth and Delmarva Transportation, to provide free rides to a public health clinic to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
To arrange for a ride, call the Vaccine Call Center at 1-833-643-1715 and press option 3. To see a list of clinics offering vaccinations, go to de.gov/getmyvaccine.
Walk-ins at all sites are welcome, or you may schedule an appointment. All sites are located near DART bus routes and are wheelchair accessible.
The Public Health clinics offer the Pfizer vaccine so anyone age 12 and older is eligible to be vaccinated at these sites. Parental consent is required for anyone under age 18, but a parent is not required to be there in person.
Parental consent can be provided by filling out, printing and signing the Immunization Reporting Record located on the webpage under the clinic location section.
Where to find testing
The number of COVID-19 tests that Delaware at pop-up sites dropped in the last two weeks to about 25,000. They had been as high as 90,000 at the worst of the winter surge.
The state continues to offer free pop-up testing sites, along with testing at Walgreens and at various hospitals and health care locations.
New Castle County
Monday, May 24 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: St. Paul UAME Church (3114 N. Market St., Wilmington) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
Monday, May 24 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Elsmere Library (30 Spruce Ave., Wilmington) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
Tuesday, May 25 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Warner Elementary School (801 W. 18th St., Wilmington) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
Tuesday, May 25 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.: University of Delaware Hollingsworth Lot (61 North College Ave., Newark) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Wednesday, May 26 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Henrietta Johnson Medical Center (601 New Castle Ave., Wilmington) Register by calling 302-655-6187
Wednesday, May 26 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Siegel Jewish Community Center (101 Garden of Eden Road, Wilmington)Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Wednesday, May 26 from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.: ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital, 601 Parking Lot (601 Delaware Ave., Wilmington) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Thursday, May 27 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Elsmere Library (30 Spruce Ave., Wilmington) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
Thursday, May 27 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Dickey Park (60 Madison Drive, Newark) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Thursday, May 27 from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Henrietta Johnson Medical Center (601 New Castle Ave., Wilmington) Register by calling 302-655-6187
Friday, May 28 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Hockessin United Methodist Church (7250 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Saturday, May 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: City of Love Church at Brandywine (2200 N. Market St., Wilmington) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Saturday, May 29 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Townsend Fire Co. (107 Main Street, Townsend)Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Saturday, May 29 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Henrietta Johnson Medical Center (601 New Castle Ave., Wilmington) Register by calling 302-655-6187
Kent County
Monday, May 24 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Clayton Fire Company (300 East St., Clayton) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Tuesday, May 25 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: First Pilgrim Baptist Church (27 S. Caesar Rodney Ave., Camden) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Wednesday, May 26 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Caesar Rodney High School (239 Old North Road, Camden) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
Thursday, May 27 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Mt. Zion AME Church (101 N. Queen St., Dover) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Friday, May 28 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Milford High School (1019 N. Walnut St., Milford) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Saturday, May 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Power in Praise Ministries (14 Clark St., Harrington) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Sussex County
Tuesday, May 25 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Delaware Tech Owens Campus – Lot A (21179 College Drive, Georgetown) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Wednesday, May 26 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Indian River High School (29772 Armory Road, Dagsboro) Register: delaware.curativeinc.com
Friday, May 28 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Blades Fire Company (200 E 5th St., Blades)Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Saturday, May 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Macedonia AME Church (431 N. North St., Seaford) Register:delaware.curativeinc.com
Anyone with a question about COVID-19, whether related to medical or social service needs, should call Delaware 2-1-1. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
