Information on COVID-19 testing in Delaware can be found here.
Governor Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health announced the state would partner with Nemours Children’s Health System, the Delaware Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other pediatric care providers to make rapid COVID-19 tests available for children and adolescents statewide. (November 13)
Governor Carney, New Jersey Governor Murphy, and Rhode Island Governor Raimondo announce that their states would work together on asymptomatic COVID-19 testing. (October 30)
ECONOMIC RESPONSE
Essential Service Designations:
Governor Carney’s ninth modification to his State of Emergency set forth additional guidelines for essential businesses – related to occupancy, exclusive hours for high-risk population, six-foot spacing in checkout lines, discontinuance of self-serve foods and product sampling, and designating staff to count the number of customers entering and exiting stores, among other guidelines. (April 1)
Governor Carney’s eighth modification to his State of Emergency allows childcare programs to be designated as emergency childcare sites. (March 30)
Essential services in Delaware include natural resources and mining, utilities, construction, manufacturing, the majority of wholesale trade, select retail trade (such as food and beverage stores, gas stations, and appliance stores), the majority of transportation and warehousing, finance and insurance, healthcare and social assistance, among others. (March 22)
Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:
The Delaware Department of Labor issued guidelines for employers and employees to follow when returning to work. (July 23)
The Delaware Department of Labor announced the launch of a new UI benefits system to process claims for independent contractors and self-employed individuals, among others. (May 4)
Governor Carney’s 13th modification to his State of Emergency requires businesses to take additional steps to maintain safety, including requiring employees to wear face coverings, providing face coverings and hand sanitizer, and denying entry to people who do not have a face covering, among others. (April 25)
Economic Stimulus & Relief:
The Delaware Division of Social Services has issued emergency benefits for March to eligible SNAP, TANF, and GA households. (March 26)
Governor Carney announced the reopening of the Delaware Housing Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance for renters affected by COVID-19. (March 19)
The Delaware Division of Social Services issued emergency benefits for December to eligible households as part of the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health crisis (December 8)
More small businesses will have help in applying for DE Relief Grants through a new relationship between the Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) and the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce. Through Nov. 12, 1,904 applicants had accepted and/or been approved for more than $61 million in grants, with requests for another $31.2 million undergoing the review process. The median grant award has been a little more than $20,000. The typical recipient had a median annual 2019 gross revenue of just under $500,000. (November 18)
Governor Carney announced an expansion of Delaware’s DE Relief program, which provides direct grants to Delaware small businesses, and the Rapid Workforce Training and Redeployment Initiative, which provides rapid re-training for Delawareans who have lost jobs or income due to the COVID-19 crisis. With the expansion, $150 million is available in direct grant assistance for Delaware small businesses. (October 15)
Governor Carney and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer joined leaders of Delaware nonprofit and philanthropy organizations to announcethe $25 million Delaware Nonprofit Support Fund, which will aid organizations that have provided critical services to Delawareans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. (September 9)
Governor Carney and Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) Director Anas Ben Addiannounced the reopening of the Delaware Housing Assistance Program (DE HAP), which provides financial assistance for renters affected by COVID-19. Emergency mortgage assistance is also available for homeowners who have missed payments due to the pandemic. (August 10)
Business Support & Resources:
Governor Carney and the Delaware Division of Small Business announced $26 million to support small businesses most affected by COVID-19 restrictions. (December 21)
Governor Carney and the Delaware Department of State announced $10 million in relief funding for Delaware arts organizations. The State of Delaware will provide $5 million, with another $5 million in matching contributions. (December 21)
Governor Carney and the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services announced the creation of a Health Care Relief Fund to support Delaware health care providers during the COVID-19 crisis. The $100 million fund would support providers throughout the health care industry that have been on the front lines fighting COVID-19 in Delaware. (October 20)
Governor Carney, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, and the Delaware Division of Small Business announced a grant program of at least $100 million to assist Delaware small businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by the COVID-19 crisis. (August 19)
SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS
Reopening:
Governor Carney modified the COVID-19 State of Emergency declaration, eliminating social distancing requirements and removing Delaware’s mask mandate effective May 21. (May 19)
Governor Carney announced he would ease most capacity restrictions on businesses beginning May 21. (May 5)
Governor Carney issued the 10th revision to his COVID-19 emergency order, increasing outdoor table size restrictions to parties of 10 people. Indoor table size restrictions food and drink establishments were not changed. (April 28)
Governor Carney formally extended the State of Emergency declaration another 30 days to confront community spread of COVID-19. (April 16)
Governor Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health announced that the state’s COVID-19 vaccination program would open to residents 16 years of age or older. (April 7)
The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has updated its long-term care facilities guidance to meet federal standards. (March 26)
All pharmacies in Delaware were authorized to begin vaccinating residents 50 years of age and older, as well as those 16 years of age and older with high- and moderate-risk medication conditions. (March 16)
Governor Carney, the Delaware Division of Public Health, and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency announced the list of community testing sites throughout the state. (February 1)
Governor Carney signed the fifth revision to the omnibus emergency order, continuing the restrictions, including the Stay-at-Home advisory and universal indoor mask mandate, to combat the increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Delaware. Beginning on January 8, the 10:00PM curfew at restaurants and bars would be lifted, but establishments would still be required to have signage prominently displayed on tables stating that parties must be from the same household and share messaging on masking compliance. (January 8)
Delaware began administering vaccines to staff working in long-term care facilities. (December 17)
Governor John Carney signed the fourth revision to the omnibus emergency order, announcing additional restrictions to confront the winter surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations. (December 10)
Governor Carney issued a revised State of Emergency order, removing additional restrictions at bars in Delaware beach communities. (November 5)
Governor Carney announced that the state’s COVID Alert DE would partner with New York and New Jersey. (October 1)
SCHOOL PLANNING
K-12:
In a letter to school leaders, educators, and parents on Tuesday, Governor Carney, the Delaware Division of Public Health and the Delaware Department of Education urged Delaware schools to return to hybrid instruction beginning January 11. (January 6)
Governor Carney and the Delaware Department of Education announced the state would provide $9 million in one-time funding to Delaware school districts and charter schools to prevent educator and staff layoffs due to enrollment reductions. (December 24)
Governor Carney and the Delaware Department of Education announced a few notable early childhood education updates, ranging from governance updates to additional CARES Act funding to the state’s commitment to double Early Childhood Assistance Program funding. (October 26)
Delaware released new guidance that helped schools safely allow fall sports. (September 2)
Governor Carney and the Division of Public Health announced an update to Delaware’s face coverings guidance for children. Children entering kindergarten and older must wear face masks in public settings. (August 25)
State Higher Education:
A list of Delaware colleges and universities that planned to reopen in the fall can be found here.
Governor Carney announced a $45 million Higher Education Relief Fund to assist Delaware colleges and universities affected by COVID-19. (November 24)
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