COVID-19 cases spiking in Delaware, flu cases also rising

WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS) — A lot of individuals are sick in Delaware. The state is experiencing an alarming spike in COVID-19 instances and the flu can be on the rise. 

They mentioned residents have to take extra precautions and so they’re urging individuals at high-risk to put on masks in crowded indoor places. 

Delaware is swamped with sick individuals COVID-19 spiking and there is an early surge of influenza. 

“Yeah, I feel as a division we do have issues anytime we see neighborhood ranges rising,” Emily Hanlin, with the Delaware Well being Division, mentioned. 

Hanlin is the lead epidemiologist with Delaware’s well being division. She says COVID-19 is very excessive amongst individuals between the ages of 18 and 49. 

General, COVID-19 instances in Delaware are up 62% over the past two weeks. Hospitalizations have elevated by 17% and COVID-19 deaths rose 52% over the past two weeks. 

Hanlin says the division has thought-about the spike being a post-Thanksgiving surge. 

She says viruses are circulating extra now as a result of extra individuals are congregating inside, most with out masks. 

“So proper now, Delaware doesn’t have a masks mandate, however nearly as good stewards of public well being, we do know that masks work. So it is all the time a good suggestion to contemplate masking if you are going to be round somebody who’s in danger and you are going to see grandma or grandpa at Christmas,” Hanlin mentioned. 

Anders Eliasen is amongst a rising variety of individuals contaminated with COVID-19 for the primary time. 

“I did not really feel like I used to be invincible, I believed it was inevitable that I used to be going to get it,” Eliasen mentioned. 

He says he let his guard down at a soccer recreation. 

“I used to be like, oh shoot, I forgot my masks,” he mentioned. 

Influenza instances are surging across the nation and in Delaware, the blue line exhibits the dramatic improve in new flu instances is highest amongst 5 to 11-year-olds. 

“We’re seeing a really early rise in influenza,” Hanlin mentioned. 

She says a part of the issue might be that solely 30% of Delawareans have acquired the really helpful flu shot.

Well being officers are urging individuals to get flu photographs and to additionally get COVID-19 boosters, these numbers are additionally low in Delaware. 

Medical doctors say you will get each vaccines on the identical time.