Hello friends and neighbors,

Phase 1 of Delaware’s economic reopening officially began today, along with the lifting of several State of Emergency restrictions on the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, the ban on short-term rental units and the mandatory 14-day quarantine for out-of-state travelers.

I am working with many business owners in our district to be sure they have all the equipment they need to protect the health of customers and staff as they begin to reopen.

At the same time, our state – and our nation – is reeling from the pain of horrifyingly racist brutality that has sown fear and anger throughout our communities. Ultimately, my colleagues and I know that the change these protestors rightfully demand will require our active participation. As we prepare for the final month of a very unusual session, we continue to listen.

In the meantime, Delaware is in need of considerable physical, emotional and economic repair. The road ahead will be difficult but we will rise to the challenge – together.

In my latest newsletter, you will find updates on:

• What Phase 1 entails
• How businesses are working to protect the health of customers
• Additional financial assistance for the economically disadvantaged
• The Delaware General Assembly’s ongoing session
• And more

Visit our resource portal for links to information about testing sites, mobile food pantries, stay-at-home resources for children, unemployment assistance, public services and more.

COVID-19 Resource Portal

As always, feel free to reach out to my office with any additional questions.

Thank you,

Nicole Poore
Senator, District 12

Number of cases in Delaware

Delaware documented 40 coronavirus-related deaths last week, bringing the total number of fatalities to 366.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded in Delaware rose to 9,498 over the weekend, a 6-percent increase from this time last week. Sussex County remains a hot spot with 4,253 cases, up 3.3 percent from last week. The number of cases in New Castle County rose 9.4 percent to 3,758 and Kent County jumped 6 percent to 1,436.

Hospitalizations fell to 160 while the number of people in critical condition fell to 30. Nearly 5,266 Delawareans also have recovered from COVID-19, meaning seven days have passed since the resolution of their symptoms.

Visit the Delaware Division of Public Health coronavirus tracker for detailed information about the spread of the virus, including a breakdown of cases by age, sex, race/ethnicity and outcomes.

Up-to-date Coronavirus Information

Phase 1 of Delaware’s Recovery Underway

As I mentioned earlier, Delaware’s long-awaited move to Phase 1 of its rolling reopening plan began at 8 a.m. today. That means:

• Restaurants, breweries and bars may open their doors to dine-in service, but are limited to 30 percent of capacity. Diners also are required to make a reservation.
• Malls and retail establishments may reopen but are limited to 30-percent capacity.
• Barber shops and hair salons may reopen but are limited to 30-percent capacity.
• Gyms and other exercise facilities may reopen but are limited to 30-percent capacity. Classes are allowed with social distancing and equipment cleaning.
• Short-term rentals may resume and the mandatory quarantine for out-of-state travelers has been lifted.
• Applications for outdoor gatherings of up to 250 people are being accepted at covid19faq@delaware.gov.
• Casinos and racetracks may reopen, although spectators will not be permitted to attend races.
• Non-contact youth sports may resume.

For many businesses, a successful restart will require more than just opening the doors. Customers also will need to be assured their health, along with the safety of employees and the community at-large, is being taken seriously.

Businesses will need to require face coverings be worn by patrons and staff. Frequent cleanings of all surfaces and regular hand washing will be necessary. And responsible social distancing must be enforced at all times.

To help our business community adjust to those requirements, the Delaware Division of Public Health – DPH and the Delaware Division of Small Business have created a one-stop shop for all the tools needed to meet state safety guidelines for specific industries, including help acquiring PPE and testing kits.

Delaware website for all COVID-19 business resources

Free PPE Kits Available for Small Businesses

Undertaking new safety measures to protect consumers and employees during our Phase 1 reopening presents new challenges for our business community, especially the small shops that make up the backbone of our economy.

To help them get restarted as quickly and safely as possible, I will be distributing 40 free kits to small businesses in our area, each containing hand sanitizer, surface cleaner and face masks. Free kits are also being distributed by Main Street organizations, various chambers of commerce and several state agencies.

This limited supply of free kits are available on a first come, first served basis, so please email me immediately if you are interested.

Businesses in need of masks, gloves and other supplies also can find vendors by using Delaware’s new Business-to-Business tool kit.

Vendors with available supplies can be added to this list here.

Campground Rentals Now Available

Campgrounds in Delaware State Parks reopened Monday as part of Governor John Carney’s order to lift the emergency ban on short-term rentals and the 14-day quarantine for out-of-state travelers, starting on June 1.

Camping is now available at the following state parks:

• Cape Henlopen: Tents, RVs, cabins
• Delaware Seashore: Tents, RVs
• Indian River Marina: Cottages
• Killens Pond: Tents, RVs, cabins
• Lums Pond: Tents, RVs, yurts
• Trap Pond: Tents, RVs, yurts, cabins

All cabins and cottages will be sanitized by a professional cleaning service between rentals to allow park staff to focus on cleaning common areas. Some amenities will remain closed due to COVID-19, including nature centers and playgrounds.

Campers also will be required to heed safety protocols, including carrying a face mask that must be worn in restrooms and other enclosed spaces where proper social distancing cannot be maintained between members of different households.

The Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation has issued refunds to anyone who reserved campsites, cabins, cottages and yurts from March 24 through May 31. That liberal cancellation policy will remain in effect through June 15 for anyone who still wants a full refund.

Read DNREC Announcement on Campgrounds

Guidance Issued for Summer Camps, Summer School

Governor John Carney on Friday issued guidance for summer camps and summer schools to eventually reopen as part of Phase 2 in Delaware’s rolling recovery plan.

Summer camps must prepare written plans for how they will enforce social distancing, frequent hand washing and other basic public health precautions. Both camps and summer schools also are encouraged to limit groups to 15 children, plus staff.

If feasible, the Delaware Division of Public Health also recommends camps and summer schools conduct daily health checks of staff and students.

Click here to read the full guidance for summer camps.

Click here to read the full guidance for summer schools.

Read full announcement on summer activities

Housing Protections Remain in Place

The start of our Phase 1 reopening marks a major turning point in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. But June 1 is also the start of another month in which thousands of Delawareans will struggle to pay their rent or cover their mortgage.

While it’s important to pay your monthly housing bills whenever possible, Delaware’s State of Emergency prevents landlords from evicting Delawareans from their homes during this crisis. Landlords also may not charge late fees or interest during the State of Emergency and utility service companies may not terminate service or charge late fees.

The federal CARES Act also includes authority for financial institutions to provide you with temporary mortgage suspension on federally-owned or federally-backed mortgage loans, although you will still be required to make up the suspended payments at a later date.

Click here for more information on assistance for homeowners.

Tenants who are being threatened with eviction by their landlords during the pandemic should contact the Delaware Legal Help Link or the Delaware Community Legal Aid Society Inc. (CLASI) for assistance.

Fannie Mae Renters Resource Finder

Additional Emergency Benefits Provided to SNAP Recipients

Delawareans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program got some extra help with putting food on the table last week.

All families participating in SNAP received the maximum monthly benefit as part of the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. For the average SNAP household in Delaware, the increased benefit will translate to about $120 in additional food assistance.

The added emergency benefits for May automatically loaded to recipients’ Electronic Benefits Transfer card on Friday.

SNAP households will receive their regular May and June benefits on the usual issuance dates.

Apply for SNAP Benefits Online

Help Discussing COVID-19 with Your Children

Talking to your children about COVID-19 in an age-appropriate way can be challenging. New information about this illness and how it impacts children seems to be coming out every day.

That’s why Nemours has created a helpful resource for parents and families on topics related to COVID-19.

This helpful site includes articles and videos about how to talk to children about the virus, tips for calming anxiety, information on how to protect your family and much more.

Understanding Coronavirus for Kids

Free COVID Testing Sites Available Statewide

Our ability to continue Delaware’s gradual reopening will depend on our ability to quickly diagnose the virus and control its spread until a vaccine and proven treatments become widely available.

Achieving that goal means undertaking a massive community testing effort along with contact mapping that will help determine who has been exposed.

As part of Governor John Carney’s plan to administer 80,000 tests a week, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services has created a helpful website where you can find the closest community-based and appointment-based testing services in our area.

DHSS is also looking to hire about 200 Delawareans to contact those who test positive and anyone who might have had close contact with them.

Click here to apply for a job with this vital contact tracing unit.

Testing Locations Throughout Delaware

Delaware General Assembly Reconvenes

The state legislature is back in business after reconvening the second half of the 150th General Assembly Session in a virtual platform last week – an historic first in Delaware history.

Both the Senate and the House held separate meetings in which we passed a concurrent resolution to clear the way for us to hold virtual meetings in times of emergency. The Senate also confirmed the appointments of Col. Nathaniel McQueen Jr. as secretary of the Delaware Department of Homeland Security, two Delaware Superior Court judges and five new Justices of the Peace.

Both meetings were broadcast live on YouTube – also a first for the General Assembly.

Starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow, the Joint Finance Committee will begin drafting a final budget plan for Fiscal Year 2021. You can follow those proceedings by listening to the audio directly on the Legislature’s website.

I’ll be sure to keep you posted as we announced additional session days in the coming weeks.

A Difficult Week in Delaware

Although these newsletters are intended to keep you informed about Delaware’s response to the Coronavirus, I believe it is important we address the civil unrest playing out across our state and our nation.

Even with much of our economy shut down and the majority of Americans stuck at home, the racism that has plagued our country since its founding has not taken a rest.

Whether it’s an individual calling authorities to falsely accuse someone of harassment or the sickening, racist brutality that has made trust in our democratic institutions so difficult for so many, we know we must do better.

We must commit ourselves to better understanding the suffering of our neighbors. And we must demand greater accountability from a system that has always promised justice for all but has not always delivered.

I promise you that my colleagues and I see your frustration, your anger and pain. We kicked off the 150th General Assembly with a flurry of bills to reform our criminal justice system and we will continue to push, pull, and bend this system to fit the needs of its people – all of its people – until the basic expectations of safety, opportunity, and fair treatment for all are fulfilled.

As written in the oath I took upon entering office, the powers of this office flow from the people I am privileged to represent. Please help me continue to represent you, your family, and your community by emailing me with your ideas, thoughts and suggestions for addressing these issues right here in our own community.

Friends and neighbors,

There is a lot of information coming out every day on Delaware’s COVID-19 response and it’s important to stay up to date.

Below you’ll find a summary of some of the most useful information about the latest alerts and changes, including:

• An updated number of cases in Delaware
• Gov. Carney’s stay-at-home order, which enters into effect tomorrow morning
• Gov. Carney’s order to close Delaware’s beaches
• Information on statewide testing services, newly available this week
• Updated policies regarding hospital visits
• Public school information
• Unemployment information and how to apply
• Delaware’s Hospitality Emergency Loan Program (H.E.L.P.)
• Grocery stores and food shopping reminders
• Price gouging information from our Attorney General
• Changes to DMV services and other DelDOT updates
• How you can donate your resources and time to help address this crisis

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, keep checking de.gov/coronavirus or call DPH’s coronavirus hotline at 1-866-408-1899

As always, feel free to reach out to my office at nicole.poore@delaware.gov if you have any additional questions.

Thank you,

Nicole Poore
Senator, District 12

Number of cases in Delaware and U.S.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 87 over the weekend, a nearly 12-fold increase from this time last week. So far, 50 of the positive cases are in New Castle County, 9 are in Kent County and 20 are in Sussex County. At least six of those individuals are currently hospitalized, three of whom are critically ill.

The source of exposure for many of these positive cases is unknown, which indicates community spread of the virus is occurring in the state.

If you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or have symptoms of illness, please call your family doctor or call the Division of Public Health’s Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-408-1899, or 711 for individuals who are hearing-impaired, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Questions can also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.

Many individuals infected with COVID-19 recover by resting, drinking plenty of liquids and taking pain and fever-reducing medications. However, illness can be severe and require hospitalization in some cases.

For the most up-to-date information about the Coronavirus, please click here.

Stay-At-Home Order

Delawareans are being asked to stay home whenever possible.

Governor John Carney over the weekend ordered all non-essential businesses to close, starting at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

Grocery stores, health care facilities, pharmacies, child care services and other businesses can remain open, but must follow social distancing policies, protect high-risk workers, provide hand-washing or sanitizer stations, and follow all health guidelines for internal cleaning. Restaurants and taverns are permitted to continue take-out and drive-through food and alcohol sales.

Click here to read Governor Carney’s order.

Click here for a full list of essential and non-essential businesses, as defined by Sunday’s order.

Click here for answers to frequently asked questions.

Delaware employers with questions about how they may be impacted can email covid19faq@delaware.gov, or call 302-577-8477 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Emails are encouraged due to potentially high call volume.

Beaches closed

Last week’s warm weather brought hundreds of out-of-state visitors to Delaware’s resort towns, prompting Governor John Carney to close the state’s beaches and boardwalks, starting at 5 p.m. on March 21.

The public is prohibited from accessing the beach except to exercise or walk their dogs where dogs are permitted. Local officials may choose to enact tighter restrictions.

“Governor Carney’s action to close all Delaware beaches sends a vital message to all Delawareans and those who may be thinking of coming here,” said City of Lewes Mayor Ted Becker. “Our beach communities are a very important part of the state’s economy but they are not equipped to be a safe harbor for those who come from other areas. We urge everyone to shelter in the location of their primary residence.”

Read the Full Order

Statewide Testing Services

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services last week put in place a new plan for ensuring people with symptoms of the coronavirus have access to safe, efficient and free testing.

Beginning today, each of the state’s health care systems will operate standing facilities that will administer tests to people who have been evaluated by a medical provider. A physician’s order or prescription is required to receive a test.

Standing health facility test sites will include:

• New Castle County: ChristianaCare will operate two testing sites, one in Newark, one in Wilmington; Saint Francis Healthcare will operate one site in Wilmington.
• Kent County: Bayhealth will operate one testing site in Dover.
• Sussex County: Beebe Healthcare will operate two testing sites, one in Millsboro and one in Frankford; Nanticoke will operate one testing site in Seaford.

Those who do not have access to a health care provider can call the Division of Public Health Call Center at 1-866-408-1899 to discuss whether they should be tested for Coronavirus. Testing is NOT recommended for those who do not have symptoms.

Read the full plan here

Hospital Visitation

Delaware’s hospital systems have updated their patient visitor guidelines over the last week:

Christiana Care is not allowing visitors or support people with some exceptions. One visitor or support person is permitted for patients in palliative care or hospice, for laboring or postpartum mothers, for patients in the emergency department, patients undergoing surgical procedures, or pediatric patients.

St. Francis Healthcare is not allowing visitors into the facility. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for: children treated at the hospital; maternity units; or patients receiving end-of-life care. For approved exceptions, only one visitor per patient will be allowed if they are 18 or older; immediate family members, powers of attorney, guardians or patient representatives; and healthy with no symptoms of illness.

Bayhealth is not accepting visitors. Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis for laboring patients, neonatal intensive care patients, pediatric patients, end-of-life patients, and for patients undergoing urgent procedures or surgeries. Exceptions also will be made if the patient requires assistance.

Beebe Healthcare is only allowing one healthy visitor for patients receiving pediatric care, palliative or hospice care, mothers in labor or delivery and patients undergoing procedures or surgical procedures, including urgent or emergent surgery at Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus.

Nanticoke Memorial Hospital is not allowing visitation in most cases. Two parents or caregivers may visit pediatric patients as long as neither are symptomatic. Two people may visit mothers in labor or delivery, including a support person or postpartum helper. Exceptions also will be made on a case-by-case basis for special situations, including end of life.

Public Schools

Governor John Carney today extended the school closure through at least May 15.

District and charter schools will continue to provide students with access to free meals. Those schools are also working with their staffs to create remote instruction plans so students can continue to learn during this public health crisis.

Delaware is currently seeking a federal waiver from certain testing requirements and Delaware Education Secretary Dr. Susan Bunting will recommend the State Board of Education forgive missed days so that no district or charter needs to extend its school calendar beyond the end of June.

A full list of school meal sites can be found here.
A list of remote learning activities and other resources can be found here.
Read more about Governor Carney’s order here.

Unemployment

The Delaware Department of Labor last week made major changes to its unemployment insurance program that will help ensure unemployment benefits are available to workers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Please follow these instructions to file a claim for unemployment benefits:

• Visit ui.delawareworks.com.
• Click the big red bar that says “File an Unemployment Claim” to begin.
• Read all the instructions carefully and click the boxes that apply to you.
• Provide an email address to quickly get alerts about any changes that might affect your claim.
• Select your preferred method for receiving payments. You can choose direct deposit or debit card. If you chose to be paid through a debit card, you will receive a ReliaCard from US Bank in the mail.
• You will see a confirmation number once your claim has been submitted. If you do not get a confirmation number your claim was not processed.
• Submit a weekly pay authorization through web benefits at https://uicc.delawareworks.com/ or telebenefits on the Sunday after you file your claim and every week thereafter. If you don’t submit a pay authorization each week, payment cannot be made!
• You will receive a notice in the mail that explains what wages were used to establish your claim and your weekly benefit amount.
• Email questions to uiclaims@delaware.gov.

Unemployment FAQs

Assistance for the Hospitality Industry

Applications for the new Hospitality Emergency Loan Program (HELP) are now available online at the Delaware Division of Small Business website here: https://business.delaware.gov/coronavirus/

These no-interest loans of up to $10,000 per month can be used by our restaurants, bars, breweries, museums, performing arts centers and other hospitality businesses to help cover rent, utilities and other unavoidable bills incurred during the Coronavirus outbreak.

There are some eligibility restrictions so please read the rules carefully before submitting an application.

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores and their workers are providing a critical service during this public health crisis and they deserve our thanks for all their hard work.

The Delaware Food Industry Council assures us that while supplies might run low at your local supermarket, they will not be depleted for long.

The Council also has provided us with a list of adjusted store hours and special senior shopping times for many of the chains in our area.

If you have questions or concerns about supermarkets in Delaware, please reach out to Delaware Food Industry Council Executive Director Julie Miro Wenger by emailing juliemirowenger@gmail.com.

Price Gouging

Attorney General Kathy Jennings is reminding consumers to stay vigilant about businesses illegally raising prices to take advantage of the public’s anxiety during this public health crisis.

Governor Carney’s State of Emergency declaration explicitly prohibits price gouging, defined as a 10 percent or greater increase in prices above normal levels, except when the increase is attributable to increased supplier costs.

Consumers should report suspected price gouging to the Delaware Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Unit through a formal complaint.

Consumer complaint forms can be found at de.gov/consumer and should be submitted along with any supporting documentation to consumer.protection@delaware.gov.

Consumers with additional questions can contact the DOJ’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 220-5424.

Report Price Gouging Here

Delaware,

As I’m sure you are aware, there is a lot of information going around about COVID-19, also called the Novel Coronavirus.

The public health professionals at the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services are carefully monitoring the situation and prepared to respond.

Below you will find some useful information about their work and everyday measures you can take to prevent the spread of this and other infectious diseases in our area.

Visit de.gov/coronavirus for the most accurate and up-to-date information and
feel free to reach out to my office at nicole.poore@delaware.gov if you have any questions.

I will be working with DHSS to keep everyone updated on COVID-19 in the coming weeks and months.

Thank you,

Nicole Poore
Senator, District 12

What is Coronavirus Disease?

• The respiratory virus, first identified in Wuhan, China, has been named SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it causes is known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• It has the potential to cause severe illness and pneumonia in some people.
• No cases have been confirmed in Delaware at this time.
• The risk to the general public still remains low at this time.

What Delawareans Can Do

• Take steps to avoid spreading germs from any respiratory diseases by:
  • Get your flu vaccine if you have not already done so.
  • Covering your cough.
  • Staying home if you are sick.
  • Washing your hands.

• It is currently flu and respiratory disease season, and flu activity is still high and expected to continue for a number of weeks.
• Anyone who recently traveled to China, Italy, South Korea or Iran in the past 14 days is asked to contact the Division of Public Health at 1-888-295-5156 to advise so we can provide recommendations for self-monitoring at home.
• Anyone returning from those countries in the past 14 days who experiences fever, cough, or other acute illness should contact DPH at 1-888-295-5156 to discuss your symptoms and potential next steps which may include transport to a health care facility, and testing. If your symptoms are severe enough to require calling 9-1-1, inform the 9-1-1 operator of your recent travel and symptoms.
• The U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory on January 31, 2020 advising U.S. citizens not to travel to China due to the ongoing situation involving the 2019 novel coronavirus. On Feb. 26, 2020, the State Department issued a travel advisory not to travel to Iran. On Feb. 29, 2020, the State Department issued travel advisories to reconsider travel to South Korea and Italy, and not to travel to Daegu, South Korea, or the Lombardy and Veneto regions of Italy. Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice, and commercial carriers have reduced or suspended routes to and from China, Italy and South Korea. Keep updated on the most recent travel advisories on the CDC website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.

What DPH is Doing

• We are in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as other local and national partners to share information.
• We have sent information to health care providers around the state with current recommendations for screening and testing for COVID-19, as well as to EMS providers regarding proper protection procedures.
• We are holding frequent calls with staff and our state and health care provider partners to remain apprised of the latest updates.
• Sharing messaging with partners and the public as it becomes available.
• This is a rapidly evolving situation, so information and recommendations are likely to change quickly as well. We will continue to learn more in the coming days and share new information as it is available.

How Does It Spread?

• Through the air by coughing and sneezing
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes

Who Is at Risk?

• Travelers to and from certain areas of China, Italy, South Korea and Iran are at increased risk as are their close contacts
• Current risk to the general public is low
• See travel guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Symptoms

For confirmed COVID–19 infections, reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms (similar to the common cold) to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath