Issue 483 - October 16, 2020
In This Issue:
  • WEEKLY COVID-19 UPDATE: A Mixed Bag of Data and Trends
  • Federal Survey Shows Small Businesses Struggling, Many Delawareans Expecting Less
  • PEW RESEACRH CENTER: Differences in How Democrats and Republicans Use Twitter
WEEKLY COVID-19 UPDATE:
A Mixed Bag of Data and Trends
OCTOBER 16, 2020: Delaware’s most recent COVID-19 statistics reveal a muddled situation. (All data is as of 6 p.m. Thursday, October 15.)
 
According to the Delaware Division of Public Health, there have been a total of 22,724 positive COVID-19 cases among Delawareans since March 11, including 11,818 individuals who are considered recovered. The number of new cases remains elevated this week, with a current seven-day daily average of 127.7.
 
The seven-day average for the percentage of persons who tested positive for COVID-19 decreased from 6.6% on October 8 to 5.5% yesterday (10/15). 
 
Earlier this week, there were 116 hospitalized coronavirus patients, the highest total recorded since June 5. However, that number has since dropped to 104 patients – the same as was reported last Friday. Twenty-six of the hospitalized cases are critically ill, up five from last week. Delaware’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are less than a third of the peak reported more than five months ago.
 
A total of 662 Delawareans have passed away due to COVID-19 complications. Eleven additional deaths have been reported since last week's update. Even with the recent increase, almost 92% of Delaware’s coronavirus-related deaths occurred more than two months ago (August 14).

The disease continues to have a disproportionate impact on certain demographic groups. Separate studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and the Delaware Division of Public Health indicate about 85% of COVID-19 related deaths had at least one other serious health issue that potentially contributed to the fatal outcome. In most cases, victims suffered from two or more comorbidity factors.

Age plays a large role in the level of threat posed by the virus. In Delaware, school-age children (younger than 18 years-old) comprise only 9% of cases and none of the deaths. By contrast, people over the age of 50 account for 36% of all reported COVID-19 cases, but more than 95% of all mortalities. Nearly 85% of total fatalities have been senior citizens (65+).

Residents of long-term care facilities – who are typically older citizens with underlying health conditions – have been hard hit by COVID-19. Of the state’s 662 deaths, 388 (58.6%) had been long-term care residents.

For additional demographic data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, go to: de.gov/healthycommunity

Information about testing events -- including community testing sites, permanent fixed testing sites, and free-standing sites operated by the health care systems and hospitals -- can be found on the testing section of the Delaware coronavirus website at: coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing/
Federal Survey Shows Small Businesses Struggling, Many Delawareans Expecting Less
NEWS FROM THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER:
Differences in How Democrats and
Republicans Use Twitter

A small minority of users create the vast majority of tweets
Entering the peak of the the 2020 election season, social media platforms are firmly entrenched as a venue for Americans to process campaign news and engage in various types of social activism. But not all Americans use these platforms in similar ways. A new Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. adults’ Twitter behaviors finds that Democrats and Republicans have notable differences in how they use the site – from how often they tweet to the accounts they follow or mention in their own posts.