DOVER, Del. (AP) - The number of new coronavirus cases in Delaware has doubled following a drive-thru testing event by the state’s largest hospital system.
The Division of Public Health announced eight new positive cases on Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 16. Seven of the new cases involved New Castle County residents, with the other being the first reported case in Sussex County.
One of the New Castle County residents is hospitalized. The others are self-isolating at home.
Officials said six of the seven New Castle County residents participated in the ChristianaCare Health System’s drive-thru testing event on Friday, when 536 people were tested. Officials are awaiting more results from that event.
Authorities said the Sussex County resident had travel-related exposure, but the exposure sources of the other individuals is still under investigation as the state and others confronts the global outbreak of the new coronavirus strain.
Meanwhile, the Delaware Department of Labor said Tuesday that it is expanding unemployment benefits to workers affected by the virus who would otherwise not typically qualify for benefits.
The new guidelines make workers eligible for unemployment benefits if an employer needs to curtail or shut down operations temporarily because of the virus outbreak or Gov. John Carney’s state of emergency declaration.
Workers ordered by doctors to self-quarantine because of exposure or risk of exposure to the virus also will be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Parents or guardians who have been forced to quit or take unpaid leave from their jobs to care for children because of mandated school closures will be eligible for benefits, as will workers forced to quit or take unpaid leave to care for a loved one who has the virus.
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