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.”
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.
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.
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.
