Delaware County has seen an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations and ventilator use, according to patch.com.

But new COVID-19 cases and positivity rates have dropped slightly.

Ventilator use went up from an average of 8.9 to 13.1 April 16 to April 23.

Average daily coronavirus hospitalizations went up slightly, from 93.7 to 95.1.

Those showing up at the hospital with a coronavirus-like illness have stayed the same, at 1.1 percent.

New reported cases as of April 23 are down by 156 from the week before in the county.

Still, Rosemary Halt, director of the Delaware County COVID Task Force, warns they are seeing variant strains of the virus which spreads more easily.

A coronavirus outbreak at Garnet Valley Middle School returned the school to virtual learning April 27 after starting in-person classes in April, according to fox29.com.

The school has seen 18 cases in 12 days.  It hopes to restore in-person learning May 3.

On the vaccine front, the Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, as of April 27, showed 139,045 Delaware County residents are fully vaccinated. Another 94,404 are partially vaccinated.

Find out more about Garnet Valley Middle School at fox29.com.

Find out more about a rise in hospitalizations and ventilator use at patch.com.