From staff reports

SALISBURY, Md. — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve on Delmarva, so does the data available about those infected.

States have begun tracking data by race, and Maryland started releasing it by zip code as well over the weekend.

Maryland's data shows the pandemic has taken the greatest toll on African-American residents, while white residents represent the bulk of infections and hospitalizations in Virginia based on the numbers available so far.

But both states have gaps in their data. Race was not reported for nearly 46% of Virginia cases, and that data is unavailable for more than 1,500 of Maryland's cases.

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Based on new guidance from the CDC, the Delaware Division of Public Health has also started reporting deaths of "probable” cases where the individual had symptoms and was exposed to a confirmed case, but was never tested before their death.

The crisis has yet to reach its peak, but Maryland is already staring down a grim fiscal outlook as state officials predict a potential $2.8 billion revenue shortfall for fiscal year 2020. In response, spending and hiring freezes are in effect across state agencies.

This story will update throughout April 13 as new information becomes available about the pandemic's effect in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

Delaware to work with regional states on how to reopen

2:42 p.m.

Delaware will join a handful of states, including New York and Pennsylvania, to form a working group to determine a regional plan on how to best reopen schools and businesses.

This announcement comes days after the Trump Administration said it is eager to reopen much of the economy by May 1, though it's unclear what that would look like for many Americans.

The states include New York — which has become the epicenter of pandemic in the United States — New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

— Meredith Newman, The News Journal

PRMC's coronavirus ICU braced for "inevitable spike"

11:30 a.m.

What was once a bustling conference center and office space is now Peninsula Regional Medical Center's 43-bed COVID-19 intensive care unit braced for the "inevitable spike."

Background:PRMC making new ICU for coronavirus patients; more changes hit Layfield Tower

“We are anticipating a spike within the next two weeks with significant potential for respiratory failure requiring ventilation. Our plan is to be able to house over 100 ventilated patients in PRMC,” said Dr. Chris Snyder, PRMC's chief quality officer and chief of the COVID-19 response team. “The team is modifying PRMC to become a COVID hospital if necessary.”

The unit is a reimagining of the 20,000 square foot ground floor of the Salisbury hospital's Layfield Tower, which is now complete with ventilators, monitors, IV pumps, medical gases like oxygen, emergency power, nursing stations and other equipment.

Its negative pressure rooms are ventilated in a way that contains airborne contaminants by allowing air to flow into the room, but not out of it. Featuring both clean and dirty rooms where staff can put on and take off protective gear, the space took teams 18 straight days to transform.

“Given our current state of resources—space, material and human—our modeling suggests that our local surge over the next few weeks will tax our system but not exceed our critical capacities," said Dr. Mark Edney, PRMC's chief of the medical staff.

Maryland colleges to get $170.5 million in relief

10:50 a.m.

The full Maryland congressional delegation announced Monday $170,544,958 in federal funding for Maryland’s institutes of higher education under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.

Of this total, 50 percent of the funds are available first to provide direct assistance to students facing emergency expenses. The remaining 50 percent of the funds will be usable for a wider range of costs, upon further guidance from the Department of Education. This funding was included within the CARES Act, passed by Congress to bring relief to those impacted by the coronavirus crisis.

In addition to this funding, the members fought for dedicated assistance for HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions, which is forthcoming.

The delegation includes: U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin; and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone.

Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset all report increases in cases

10:00 a.m.

Maryland's 711 additional COVID-19 cases Monday morning included newly confirmed infections in Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties.

Two new cases in Somerset, 16 in Wicomico and one in Worcester put the three lower Lower Shore counties at a combined 85 infections. Here's the breakdown:

Somerset County - 6

Wicomico County - 58

Worcester County - 21

The Maryland Department of Health website shows there are now 8,936 people across the state who have tested positive and 262 deaths. That's 27 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours.

Nearly 2,000 patients have been hospitalized, and 603 people have been released from isolation. There have been 42,815 negative tests.

Virginia closing in on 6,000 cases

9 a.m.

Virginia's tally of COVID-19 cases climbed by almost 500 new confirmed infections Monday morning.

The state now has 5,747 people who have tested positive, with 149 deaths.

Accomack County remains at 15 cases and Northampton at four cases.

Coronavirus updates on Delmarva: Md. peak coming, beds for the surge, face shields and more

The Virginia Department of Health's data shows the Eastern Shore Health District has received results from 167 tests to date — the lowest number in the state. The region represents nine of the state's 903 hospitalizations.

More than 41,000 people statewide have been tested.

2 more deaths reported in Sussex County as Delaware tops 1,600 cases

8:30 a.m.

Two new coronavirus-related deaths reported in Sussex County Sunday bring Delaware's death toll to 35.

The state's most recent deaths were a 33-year-old woman with underlying health conditions and an 88-year-old woman with underlying health conditions, according to a news release. Both were residents at long-term care facilities in Sussex County.

With fatalities ranging from 33 to 96 years old, that marks the youngest death in the state. There have been 12 deaths overall in Sussex County.

More:Community gives back to health care workers risking their lives treating COVID-19 patients

Delaware has accrued 146 new confirmed COVID-19 cases since Saturday for a total 1,625 people statewide who have tested positive. Among the 201 people currently hospitalized, 51 are critically ill.

There were 60 additional infections reported in Sussex County, where cases now sit at 464. That total has increased 38% since Friday.

The state has had 213 people recover and nearly 10,200 tests come back negative.