COVID-19 Daily Briefing 4/23

 

 

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April 23

DPH announces 108 new positive cases, 3 new deaths

SMYRNA – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing three additional fatalities related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is providing an update on the number of positive cases and recovered individuals. All data reported through the daily updates are based on data received as of 6 p.m. the previous day.  

Application Period Open to Help Your Your Small Business Get an “EDGE”

The Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) is helping many small business owners overcome this hurdle through its Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE) Program.

In total, 92 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranged in age from 32 to 103 years old.  

The most recent deaths all involve individuals with underlying health conditions, including: 

  • 74-year-old male from New Castle County, hospitalized long-term care resident
  • 85-year-old female from New Castle County, long-term care facility
  • 80-year-old male from Sussex County, long-term care facility

The latest Delaware COVID-19 case statistics cumulatively since March 11, provided as of 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, include:  

  • 3,308 total laboratory-confirmed cases  
  • New Castle County cases: 1,389
  • Kent County cases: 539
  • Sussex County cases: 1,377 
  • Unknown County: 3
  • Males: 1,489; Females: 1,813; Unknown: 6
  • Age range: 0 to 103  
  • Currently hospitalized: 290; Critically ill: 65 (This data represents individuals currently hospitalized in a Delaware hospital regardless of residence, and is not cumulative.)  
  • Delawareans recovered: 643
  • 13,604 negative cases*  

*Data are provisional and subject to change. Data on negative cases are preliminary, based on negative results reported to DPH by state and commercial laboratories performing analysis.   

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, there have been 244 positive COVID-19 cases involving residents of long-term care facilities in Delaware. Fifty-five residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.

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April 23

ChristianaCare joins FDA’s national Expanded Access Program for Convalescent Plasma

WILMINGTON — ChristianaCare has treated its first hospitalized COVID-19 patient with plasma donated by individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

ChristianaCare is partnering with the Blood Bank of Delmarva in the Food and Drug Administration’s national Expanded Access Program (EAP) for Convalescent Plasma as a treatment protocol for COVID-19. ChristianaCare is one of more than 1,600 health care institutions across the United States registered in the program under the leadership of the Mayo Clinic.

Convalescent plasma is collected from individuals who have recovered from the virus, and it is administered to patients with COVID-19 who are at high risk of progression to a severe or life-threatening stage of the disease. Antibodies present in blood plasma of patients who have fully recovered are known to help fight infection. Over the past century, convalescent plasma has been safely collected and used at various times to treat polio, measles, hepatitis B, influenza, Ebola and other pathogens.

Qualifying donors are people who previously tested positive for COVID-19, but since fully-recovered and symptom free for 14 days or longer.

“In our continuing effort to provide the highest level of care to our community during this pandemic, ChristianaCare is facilitating access to investigational convalescent plasma by participating in the National Expanded Access Treatment Protocol,” said Infection Disease Specialist Dr. Alfred Bacon, medical director of clinical trials at the ChristianaCare Medical Group and principal investigator of the study. “We are working closely with the Blood Bank of Delmarva in the collection of blood plasma so it is available in our hospitals and are looking to bring new patients into the program if they are appropriate for the treatment. A key to the success of this program is recovered patients willing to donate their plasma.”
Before donated blood can be used, it is tested for safety. Then it goes through a process to separate the blood cells so that all that is left is the plasma with the antibodies. A single plasma donation has the potential to help up to four patients with COVID-19.

An Expanded Access Program (EAP) under the FDA is the mechanism by which access to certain investigational new drugs or treatments are made available outside of clinical trials. The focus of an EAP is to provide treatment, whereas a clinical trial is focused on research.

Initial data available from studies using COVID-19 convalescent plasma indicate that a single infusion of plasma has shown benefit for some patients. It is not known if this treatment will or will not help those with COVID-19 or if it will have any harmful effects, but this is one of a few promising treatments that we have at present. This program also will help researchers collect important information on patients who received the treatment.

Those who have recovered from COVID-19 (14 days symptom free) are encouraged to register online at www.delmarvablood.org. For additional information about convalescent plasma for the treatment of patients with COVID-19, visit uscovidplasma.org.

April 22

Blue Coats, Blue Rocks partner on Delaware together campaign

WILMINGTON — The two professional sports organizations in Delaware are coming together to support and raise money for two of the state’s largest health providers. The Delaware Blue Coats and the Wilmington Blue Rocks unveiled the “Delaware Together” campaign, a joint fundraiser to benefit ChristianaCare and Nemours Children’s Health System.

The campaign kicks off with a Delaware Together T-shirt available for purchase online. The T-shirts are $20, and all proceeds will be donated to these two health systems currently serving on the front lines of this pandemic. The shirts will be available for an initial presale period until May 3.

“We can’t wait for the next pitch at Frawley Stadium or the next basket at 76ers Fieldhouse,” said Blue Coats President Larry Meli. “Each will be more special than usual due to these unprecedented circumstances. In the meantime, we are thrilled to unite with the Blue Rocks and use our platforms to offer a way for our fans to contribute to the front lines of Delaware’s health care system, should they have the flexibility to do so.”

“It’s in these challenging times that the spirit of Delaware really shines,” said Blue Rocks managing partner Dave Heller. “There’s an unsinkable spirit and determination amongst us to help each other get through even the toughest times. That’s why our two organizations have joined forces to support our community heroes with these awesome t-shirts and why we’re asking all First Staters to give whatever they can as we raise money for our dedicated and selfless health care workers and first responders to help them effectively conquer the COVID-19 crisis.”

Please note that stadium pick-up is an option for those who wish to save on shipping. However, due to mandated closures, pick-up will be delayed until further notice. The order window for the Delaware Together campaign T-shirt will run from April 22-May 3. T-shirts will begin shipping 10-14 days after the May 3 deadline.

– Digital Partners -