PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio, AP) — Delaware Gov. John Carney is declaring a state of emergency starting Monday. He says the move will free up resources to help relieve hospitals, which are over capacity because of COVID-19.
"It will give us additional flexibility to manage the COVID-19 surge, training up members of our National Guard to work as [certified nursing assistants], helping with the staffing needs, enabling them to discharge out of hospitals, moving patients into long-term care and assisted-care facilities," Carney said.
Carney calls the situation for all hospitals across the state "dire."
"Our hospitals are over capacity, our emergency departments are being stressed. Part of that is COVID-related, and part of it is additional people needing hospital treatment," Carney said.
About 1,000 Guard members are being trained as nursing assistants. Carney says Delaware is reporting 454 people hospitalized Thursday, and the state is now on pace to surpass the peak of 474 reached in January.
Officials found that, for the week of Dec. 13, 78% of those are people who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
Carney called on people to get vaccinated, wear masks indoors and rethink plans for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The extended Public Health Emergency order will also allow medical providers to continue COVID-19 vaccination and testing programs. Pennsylvania and New Jersey officials have not taken this step yet, though positive cases and hospitalizations are still on the rise throughout the region.