April 14, 6 p.m.
Delaware Public Health updates COVID-19 case count
In total, 43 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19, with individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranging in age from 33 to 96 years old.
Since March 11, there have been 1,926 lab-confirmed cases in the state, with 329 cases in Kent County, 947 in New Castle County and 639 in Sussex County.
Currently there are 217 individuals hospitalized for care, with 45 currently in critical condition.
April 14, 3 p.m.
Blood Bank of Delmarva seeking plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients
The Blood Bank of Delmarva is collecting plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 to treat other patients with advanced COVID-19 infections.
Known as convalescent plasma, the ill patient is transfused with the donor’s plasma with the goal of using the donor’s antibodies to help clear the virus.
“We’re proud to partner with leading medical institutions from Delmarva and beyond in developing this potential treatment,” said Beth H. Shaz, M.D., Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at New York Blood Center Enterprises in a statement. “If this treatment proves to be effective, we are prepared to quickly scale our process and activate our network to serve hospitals nationwide.”
Qualified donors will be referred by area hospitals and the FDA will approve patients for the treatment on a case-by-case basis. Once donor eligibility is confirmed by hospital partners, the plasma will be collected, processed for infusion, and be held by the Blood Bank of Delmarva for hospitals to treat patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections.
Only donors who have recovered from COVID-19 and confirmed by a physician will be eligible to donate. Convalescent plasma donors must have complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days before they are allowed to visit the blood center for donation.
To learn more about BBD’s efforts to collect convalescent plasma, please visit delmarvablood.org/plasmaforcovid19.
April 14, 2 p.m.
WSFS partners with EverFi to provide free access to online courses
As a way to help communities who are balancing work and family commitments while schools are closed, WSFS is now providing access over 20 digital courses for students in grades K-12 on critical topics including financial education, mental wellness, compassion and digital wellness.
WSFS is partnering with EVERFI, who helps us offer financial education classroom lessons cross the Delaware Valley, have opened up their K-12 learning library to all students for FREE in response to widespread school closures.
For more information visit their online portal.
April 14, 9 a.m.
M&T Bank Contributes $125,000 to area nonprofits
- Delaware Community Foundation: M&T has made a $50,000 contribution to Delaware Community Foundation’s Strategic Response Fund, which supports nonprofits that target the emerging and evolving needs of the First State’s communities. As part of the state’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Initiative, the Strategic Response Fund will supply grants to organizations serving those who are immediately and disproportionately suffering from the current crisis.
- United Way of Delaware: The bank has provided $25,000 in financial support to the organization’s Delaware Does More: COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, which is designed to address the immediate needs of children in low-income households, the working poor and seniors.
- Food Bank of Delaware: As many families struggle to make ends meet, the Food Bank of Delaware has been tasked with meeting the rising demands of Delaware’s neighborhoods. M&T Bank will donate $25,000 to help cover costs of the nonprofit’s increased food distribution and pre-made meal kits for children.
- United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore: With the COVID-19 pandemic putting added pressure on the region’s nonprofits, $15,000 in funding from M&T will be directed to the organization’s COVID-19 LIVE UNITED Response Fund, which will provide stabilization grants for immediate relief.
- Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore: M&T has directed $10,000 to support the organization’s newly established COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which will provide grant funding to support the immediate and long-term recovery efforts for Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore.
