Delaware Coronavirus Updates – 4/26/2020

Hello friends and neighbors,

Delaware’s vaccination program is moving ahead quickly, even after the Division of Public Health paused our use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two weeks ago.

More than half of all Delawareans ages 16 and older have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while more than a third are fully vaccinated. The First State continues to rank among the top states in the nation for both categories.

The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday recommended lifting the two-week pause on the use of the J&J vaccine after determining it to be both safe and effective. DPH will share plans for the next J&J vaccine opportunity in Delaware as soon as details are finalized.

Delaware also appears to have turned a corner in the spring surge of new cases that saw our state ranked fourth in the nation for new infections per capita behind Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The 7-day average of new cases in Delaware has been falling for the past week, although Sussex County is still experiencing an increase of new cases. The exposure risk throughout Delaware remains elevated, on par with where we were in mid-November and mid-February.

Please remain vigilant and continue to take measures we know work to fight community spread, even if you have been vaccinated. Get tested regularly, practice responsible social distancing, wash your hands frequently and always wear a mask when out in public.

One final note: As my colleagues and I prepare for the final two months of the legislative calendar, I will be sending out these COVID-19 updates twice a month instead of every week. The next COVID Update newsletter will be arriving in your inbox on May 10.

In this newsletter, you will find updates on:

  • Delaware’s COVID-19 vaccination program
  • Testing sites near us
  • Food resources for Delawareans in need
  • And more!

Be well and stay safe,

Nicole Poore
Senator, 12th District

DELAWARE COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE

All Delawareans ages 16 and older are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, although the availability of appointments depends on supply.

Click the links below to read more about the variety of ways eligible Delawareans can receive a vaccination:

Vaccination Events: To participate in an upcoming drive-thru or walk-up vaccination event, you must first register on the State of Delaware’s COVID-19 vaccination waiting list. Invitations to state-run vaccination events are sent via email.

Click here to register today! Anyone without internet access can register by calling 1 (833) 643-1715. Press option #2 for help. If you are 65 or older, or need accommodations based on a disability, press #1 or #3.

Participating Pharmacies: Eight pharmacy chains in Delaware are now offering vaccine appointments as supply allows. Click here for a list of participating pharmacies and links to their online scheduling systems.

Medical Providers: Reach out to your medical provider for an appointment. If they are not vaccinating patients, they will provide your name and contact information to a local healthcare system that will contact you to schedule an appointment. Providers are being asked to use their clinical judgment to continue prioritizing people with high-risk medical conditions, including disabilities.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE UPDATE

The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday recommended states resume using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after carefully studying all of the data from 15 cases involving a rare type of blood clot out of 6.8 million doses administered.

The two public health agencies determined the chance of developing blood clots is very low and the benefits of receiving the vaccine far outweigh the potential risks.

All 15 cases involved women between the ages of 18 and 59 with symptoms occurring 6 to 15 days after vaccination. Symptoms included severe headache, chest or abdominal pain, leg swelling, shortness of breath, fainting and seizures.

DPH has not yet resumed use of the J&J vaccine, but is distributing updated materials to providers and the public. Plans for the next J&J vaccine opportunity will be shared as soon as details are finalized.

The CDC and FDA are remaining vigilant and continue to investigate any potential risk associated with any COVID-19 vaccine.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

THE LATEST COVID-19 DATA IN DELAWARE

Delaware’s rate of COVID-19 cases showed some decline over the last week, while hospitalizations remained flat.

As of Sunday, the rolling 7-day average of new COVID-19 cases was 301, down 19% from last week. The average percentage of people who got tested and had a positive result fell to 23.5%, down from 26.7% a week ago.

The cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Delaware reached 103,222 over the weekend – a 2% increase from one week ago. Statewide, the rate of infection is now 1,102.8 cases per 10,000 people.

Hospitalizations stayed flat over the week. As of Sunday, there were 159 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications, exactly the same number as a week earlier. The number of people in critical condition also held week to week at 22.

Delaware documented 14 additional Coronavirus-related deaths over the last week, bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,616. Of those total deaths, 46% were residents of long-term care facilities.

Visit Delaware’s Coronavirus Data Dashboard for all the latest information about COVID-19’s spread throughout the First State.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE STATE-LEVEL DATA

GET TESTED NOW, GET TESTED OFTEN

Fast, free and convenient testing sites are available in our area.

Click here for a full list of state-run and community testing sites in Delaware.

Click here to reserve a testing time at a local Walgreens.

Seniors and others in high-risk health categories can get test kits delivered to their homes. You will need to download Zoom to your smartphone or other electronic device to complete the test. Click here for more information.

New Castle County Pop-Up Testing Locations

Tuesday, April 27

Wednesday, April 28

Thursday, April 29

Friday, April 30

Saturday, May 1

Sunday, May 2

FOOD RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO DELAWAREANS

The Food Bank of Delaware’s monthly mobile food pantries are returning next week.

Drive-thru events are being held in each of Delaware’s three counties.

Advance registration is suggested, but not required.

Monday, May 3
11 a.m. – Crossroad Community Church, 20684 State Forest Road, near Georgetown
Pre-register: May3SussexCounty.eventbrite.com

Wednesday, May 5
11 a.m. – Dover International Speedway, 1131 N. Dupont Highway, in Dover
Pre-register: May5KentCounty.eventbrite.com

Friday, March 7
11 a.m. – Delaware Tech, 400 Stanton Christiana Road, near Newark
Pre-register: May7NewCastleCounty.eventbrite.com

COVID-19 RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AVAILABLE

The Delaware Housing Assistance Program is offering financial support to eligible renters impacted by COVID-19.

DEHAP provides up to 12 months of financial assistance for rent owed as far back as April 2020. An additional three months of extended help is also available under certain conditions.

Income restrictions apply and all payments are made directly to landlords. Both landlords and tenants can apply for DEHAP, but they will need to work together to ensure proper documentation is provided by both parties.

Tenants who received DEHAP assistance in the past can participate, but will need to reapply since the eligibility requirements and program documentation have changed.

Click here to review income eligibility by county and other program requirements or call (866) 935-0407. A list of frequently asked questions and their answers also can be found here.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS AVAILABLE

Each month, the Delaware Division of Small Business publishes an up-to-date list of local, regional and national grants available to help support local entrepreneurs.

That includes Delaware’s own EDGE Grants, an innovative and competitive program that provides young companies with the funds they need to help expand their businesses. The Division of Small Business will award 10 Entrepreneur Class grants of up to $25,000 each and five STEM Class awards of up to $100,000 each. Applications for the latest round of funding are being accepted until 11:59 p.m. on April 30.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE BUSINESS GRANT INFO

Weekly COVID-19 Press Briefing

Be sure to tune in for Governor John Carney’s weekly press briefing at 1:45 p.m. every Tuesday for the latest information and announcements.

You can watch by visiting his Facebook page or by visiting the State of Delaware’s livestream page.

COVID Alert DE App

More than 100,000 Delawareans have downloaded this free and anonymous app that will alert you when you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The app works regardless of whether that person lives in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York or Washington D.C.

Delaware State Senate