DELAWARE COUNTY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Delaware County is seeing its highest number of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. And officials say those numbers are pushing hospitals to their limit.
Delaware County Council Chair Brian Zidek said not only are they seeing a spike in cases in the general public, they're also seeing them with 911 dispatchers, police officers, firefighters and EMS workers.
“On Monday, all Delaware County hospitals were forced to divert patients because they had reached capacity and or did not have enough essential health care workers to treat patients,” he said.
Delaware County Councilwoman Elaine Schaefer said they're seeing the virus spread through small gatherings, and that's giving them a big scare as Thanksgiving approaches.
“They seem safe. They are people you love and you know so you take your mask off, and that is how this is spreading right now, exponentially,” Schaefer said.
Chester County Health Department Director Gene Casner, who is working side by side with Delaware County, said their goal is to get the virus under control without having to shut things down again.
“While there are benefits to it, there are great trickle down impacts,” Casner said.
Officials say right now they plan on letting schools run the way they have, because that's not where they're seeing the spread.