Protocols for Opening Delaware Farmers Markets
With the assistance of the Delaware Farmers’ Market Coalition, a group of market managers from across the state, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is issuing protocols to help farmers’ markets safely begin opening starting May 15.
“We want to make sure that opening the farmers’ markets in Delaware is done in a way that maximizes the safety of market staff, family farmers, and the customers who are looking to purchase produce, specialty crops, and other value-added food items,” said Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse. “We know a lot more about COVID-19 now and the steps we all need to take to prevent the spread of this disease. Farmers’ markets will not be the same social experience as they were prior to COVID-19, but we hope that Delawareans will utilize the markets as a place to purchase locally produced food.”
The protocols issued by DDA will be in place until further notice and are solely intended to allow farmers to sell produce, specialty crops, and other value-added food items that have been directly grown or raised on a farm or prepared in a permitted on-farm kitchen or cottage-food kitchen. Individual farmers’ markets may choose to implement more specific and stringent protocols, but they must at a minimum follow the issued protocols in order to operate and remain open.
“There is nothing better than heading to a farmers’ market in the spring as Delaware grown produce starts to become available. There is a sense of community pride around farmers’ markets that includes supporting our local economy and our family farms,” said Governor John Carney. “With the help of the farmers’ market managers and the staff at the Department of Agriculture and the Delaware Division of Public Health, we are able to allow farmers’ markets to begin opening on May 15 as long as they are able to enact the protocols issued by the Department of Agriculture.”
To create a safer environment for all involved in farmers’ markets, they will no longer be considered a social venue. This means there will be no social gatherings, no entertainment shows or activities, no food trucks or prepared food for consumption on site, no on-site food preparation or sampling, no demonstrations, and no pets allowed, except for service animals.
Depending on the farmers’ market, they may operate a walk-through market or a drive-through market. All customers will be required to wear face coverings, or they will be denied entrance. A maximum of two people per household will be allowed to enter the market to shop. Upon arrival, customers will check in at the entrance with market staff. If the market is at capacity, the customer will be given instructions on how they will be notified when they can go into shop.
Progress through the farmers’ market will only be in one direction. All market attendees will be required to enter through a specific entrance and will all leave out a designated exit, there will be no doubling back to shop at a vendor. Market staff, vendors, and customers will need to social distance, maintaining six feet distance from all others while inside the market area. In order to reduce shopping time, vendors will not have their product available where people can touch or handle product. Customers will need to request items that they want to purchase, and the farmer will package for purchase.
If you are sick with any of the following symptoms, stay home: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle fatigue, chills, shaking with chills, loss of smell or taste. Other symptoms such as headache or digestive symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or lack of appetite) are potential symptoms related to COVID-19 and may prompt further screening, action or investigation.
If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or have symptoms of illness, you may not go out in public. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions – including serious heart conditions, chronic lung conditions, including moderate to severe asthma, severe obesity and those who are immunocompromised, including through cancer treatment – may have a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. We want to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 within our farmers’ market community, so if you are sick or have been exposed or are at higher risk for severe illness – stay home, do not go to the farmers’ market.
More information regarding the protocols for opening Delaware farmers’ markets can be found at https://de.gov/buylocal.
The Town of Fenwick Island is seeking qualified candidates wishing to serve on Town Council. There are three (3) positions on the Town Council to be filled. Each position is for a two (2) year term. You must be registered to vote for at least one year prior to the election for which you seek to be nominated.
Other candidate qualifications include: a natural person who is a citizen of the United States; age 21 on or before the date of the election; either a bona fide resident of the Town or a property owner in the Town; and you may not have been convicted of a felony.
Filing deadline for candidates is Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 4:30 pm EST. The annual Town Election is scheduled for Saturday, August 1, 2020. Absentee balloting is available by filing an affidavit with the Town.
For additional information relating to the election, qualifications and filing information, please contact Linda Martin, Town Clerk, at Town Hall, 800 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, Delaware 19944 or at 302-539-3011.
Candidate Forms Required by the Town:
The Town requires that you fill out and submit to the Town the Certification of Intention and Candidate Filing Form, or pick up a copy from the Town Clerk at Town Hall.
Candidate Form Required by the State:
In addition to the above, all petitioners must complete the required State of Delaware Certificate of Intention form at https://cfrs.elections.delaware.gov/. This form then needs to be printed, signed, and mailed to:
Office of the State Election Commissioner
Attention: Campaign Finance
905 S. Governors Avenue
Suite 170
Dover, DE 19904
In coordination with public health experts at the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), Governor John Carney on Friday announced June 1 as the target date for Phase I of Delaware’s economic reopening. Governor Carney has extended Delaware’s State of Emergency declaration, including the stay-at-home order and its other modifications, through May 31.
Details about Phase I of Delaware’s economic reopening will be released next week, but the general framework about Delaware’s recovery effort can be found here. Entering Phase I is contingent on the State of Delaware’s ability to contain the COVID-19 hot spot in Sussex County, and continued positive trends in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide.
For current data on COVID-19 in Delaware, visit de.gov/healthycommunity.
For additional information about Delaware’s economic reopening and recovery efforts, visit de.gov/economy.
Governor Carney released the following statement on Friday:
“All Delawareans – myself included – are ready to get our economy going again. But our response to COVID-19 has been driven by the science since Day 1 and will continue to be driven by the science. The good news is our numbers in New Castle and Kent counties continue to move in the right direction. That means Delawareans are doing their part. They’ve stayed at home and practiced social distancing.
“This morning, we announced a significant statewide expansion of our COVID-19 testing program, in partnership with Delaware’s hospital systems, community health care centers, primary care physicians, and long-term care facilities. That’s good news for our efforts to reopen Delaware’s economy. Next week, we will announce a comprehensive contact tracing program, another key to reopening.
“Over the next couple weeks, we will build on the interim steps we took today, allowing certain small businesses to safely operate curbside, or by appointment only. We have heard the voices of small business owners loud and clear, and expect to move forward with a rolling reopening of Delaware’s economy. We will not hesitate to allow additional businesses to open before June 1, if we can do so safely.
“Ultimately, our ability to move into Phase I at the beginning of next month will depend on our ability to contain COVID-19 hot spots in Sussex County, especially along the Route 113 corridor. Because of the ongoing threat in Sussex County, we are not in a position yet to open Delaware’s beaches, or remove restrictions on short-term rentals and out-of-state travelers. We need everyone to really lean into the effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in southern Delaware.
“Delawareans can’t let up. Even once we move into Phase 1 of reopening, we still need to maintain social distancing to avoid a dangerous rebound in COVID-19 cases. Wash your hands. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. Don’t gather in large groups. If we continue follow public health guidelines, we have a real shot of getting Delaware moving again starting June 1.”
Anyone with a question about COVID-19, whether related to medical or social service needs, should call Delaware 2-1-1; or 7-1-1 for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Questions can also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.
DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.
Governor John Carney on Friday announced a significant expansion of Delaware’s statewide testing program for COVID-19 as Delaware moves toward Phase I of an economic reopening. The plan will be implemented in partnership with Delaware’s hospital systems, primary care physicians, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and community organizations statewide.
The new testing program will allow the State of Delaware to conduct 80,000 tests monthly – more than four times the current level of testing statewide. Delaware’s plan is based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For current data on COVID-19 testing in Delaware, visit de.gov/healthycommunity.
“We know that widespread community testing needs to be in place before we can safely reopen our economy,” said Governor Carney. “Finding a reliable supply of reliable tests has been a serious challenge, but we’ve put a plan in place that gets us to the starting line. We’ll be able to diagnose symptomatic Delawareans and detect asymptomatic spread through community testing. I want to thank all of our partners who are stepping up for their fellow Delawareans during this crisis.”
The State of Delaware has purchased 200,000 saliva-based tests from Curative, a Los Angeles-based testing company that has supplied COVID-19 tests to Los Angeles and Atlanta. The tests are scheduled to start arriving in Delaware today.
Curative, which has received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its test, was referred to state officials by New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer.
“Mass testing is a critical component to understand, identify, and defeat this invisible enemy,” said Matt Meyer, County Executive, New Castle County. “These new, innovative tests will allow us to increase testing capacity in our communities and Governor Carney, and his team deserve credit for their leadership and collaboration to help us persevere through this pandemic.”
The State of Delaware will prioritize testing under the new statewide program for:
“Black and Hispanic communities in our state are experiencing disproportionate rates of coronavirus infection,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), and a practicing family physician. “Increased and targeted community testing by our health care partners will help us identify asymptomatic spread, isolate individuals who are positive for COVID-19 and, ultimately, slow the transmission.”
Governor Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced on Tuesday the launch of a universal COVID-19 testing program for staff and residents in long-term care facilities statewide. Public health experts at DPH also will develop a list of front-line workers who will receive prioritized testing and will work with employers to develop employee testing programs.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency, led by Director A.J. Schall, will work with Delaware’s hospital systems and other health care partners to operationalize the testing framework and stabilize the supply chain.
Under the new testing program announced on Friday, Delaware plans to supply partner organizations with testing supplies to more effectively reach Delawareans where they need and can easily access tests. Delaware’s list of partners includes primary care physicians, Federally Qualified Health Centers, pharmacies, and long-term care facilities.
“Our partners in this statewide testing effort will help us quickly identify Delawareans who need COVID-19 testing and prevent the spread of the disease,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health. “This new testing program is a significant expansion of our current testing efforts, and it’s designed to keep all Delawareans safe and healthy by helping us to understand where and how much viral activity is occurring in our state. Thank you to our partners who are helping us take this important step forward.”
“Federally Qualified Health Centers, like Westside Family Healthcare, are key in reaching vulnerable populations hard hit by the virus in both urban and rural areas,” said Lolita Lopez, President and CEO of Westside Family Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center with offices in Wilmington, Newark, Bear and Dover. “As a trusted community health provider, we remain committed to partnering with Delaware state agencies, hospitals, and other primary care clinicians to provide critical outreach and COVID19 testing in the communities we serve every day.”
The State of Delaware also will continue to work with hospitals and county administrators to stand up rotating locations of community testing sites statewide. Hospital systems will continue to administer tests both on site and in the community.
“Adequate testing is an essential component in an evidence-based strategy to reopen our state while keeping the people in our community safe,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of ChristianaCare. “Since we conducted Delaware’s first drive-through testing event on March 14, ChristianaCare has partnered with Governor Carney and the health care systems across the state to expand testing capacity while providing care to those who need it, in the hospital and in the community. This new, expanded testing is an important step forward for our community.”
“Bayhealth has lead efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to safely screen, test and treat people in our central and southern Delaware communities,” said Terry Murphy, President and CEO of Bayhealth. “I am very proud of all the Bayhealth team members who have worked tirelessly in the hospital, in the field and behind the scenes to provide vital COVID-19 screening and testing. As our local businesses begin re-opening, Bayhealth remains committed to supporting Governor Carney’s plan to expand statewide testing in the communities we are privileged to serve.”
“Beebe Healthcare remains a committed partner of Governor Carney in continuing to expand COVID-19 testing capability in order to better understand the extent of novel coronavirus infection in our community,” said Dr. David Tam, President and CEO of Beebe Healthcare. “Having led the effort to operationalize the State’s plan for community-based testing in Georgetown, we stand ready to meet the continued needs of our community. Beebe is providing safe and effective COVID-19 treatment, both in the ambulatory and the inpatient setting, and expanding access to testing will mean more answers, and more opportunities to educate, guide and reassure our community in Sussex County.”
“For ninety-five years, Saint Francis has stood ready to serve Delawareans, and we are enthusiastically embracing the chance to support community testing efforts,” said Daniel J. Sinnott, President and CEO of Saint Francis Healthcare. “We look forward to partnering with Governor Carney and our healthcare partners across the state to increase the safety of all residents.”
“Having supported the large testing requirements in Sussex County, launching a partnership with New Castle County for testing of paramedics, and offering drive thru testing sites across the state, Nemours is committed to this continued collaboration with Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health that supports the recovery phase of this pandemic,” said Jay Greenspan, Chief Executive Officer of Nemours/duPont Hospital for Children.
“Part of the VA’s fourth mission is to assist in times of crisis,” said Vince Kane, Director of the Wilmington VA Center for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “We are honored to stand with Delaware our Delaware Healthcare Association partners to help our community fight COVID-19.”
“Testing is an important step on the road to economic reopening,” said Wayne A. Smith, President & CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association. “Hospitals are working closely with our state partners in the planning and execution of testing as more resources become available to test the general population. This is a big lift and requires the close collaboration that has been present since the start of our testing efforts.”
Delaware’s new testing strategy will be implemented alongside a robust contact tracing program to isolate infected individuals and their close contacts. Details of Delaware’s contact training program will be released early next week and will include details on hiring a dedicated workforce to help Delawareans who are positive with COVID-19 to safely self-isolate.
Anyone with a question about COVID-19, whether related to medical or social service needs, should call Delaware 2-1-1; individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Questions can also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.
DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.
Governor John Carney on Tuesday announced a series of interim steps allowing small businesses to resume limited operations effective 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 8.
The goal of the interim steps is to provide economic relief to Delaware citizens and businesses who are struggling financially – while maintaining strict adherence to health and safety guidelines. The steps also will help as Delawareans and Delaware businesses adapt to new ways of operating once Phase 1 begins.
Also on Tuesday, Governor Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced a plan to test all residents and staff of Delaware long-term care facilities for COVID-19. DPH will provide facilities with tests, testing supplies, training, and support for the universal testing program to protect the most vulnerable Delawareans. Expanding COVID-19 testing capacity for vulnerable populations is a requirement of federal guidance for economic reopening.
Public health experts at the Division of Public Health (DPH) will support clinicians at long-term care facilities with the new testing program. DPH will provide guidance on testing of symptomatic and asymptomatic persons and the interpretation of results. DPH will also provide recommendations to protect residents and staff based on results, including transmission-based precautions, isolation, and patient and staff management strategies.
“I understand how hard this has been for Delawareans across our state. We’ve tried to find ways to ease the pain without compromising public health,” said Governor Carney. “But even these limited steps allowing businesses to offer additional services will require strict compliance with safety standards, especially social distancing. We cannot afford to go backwards and see new cases and hospitalizations spike. Getting used to a new normal won’t be easy, but this is the first step to being able to reopen our economy.”
“Residents of long-term care facilities are extremely vulnerable to complications from the virus that causes COVID-19 due to chronic health conditions,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health. “We are incredibly pleased to be able to support this testing strategy which will enable us to help the facilities better identify outbreaks among both staff and residents and contain the spread of the disease through a variety of interventions. It is an important component in our rapidly expanding testing strategy.”
Below are the interim steps the Governor announced are effective at 8:00 a.m. on Friday:
Employees required to report to work as a result of these changes will now be permitted to utilize child care services, provided neither parent works from home and they do not have alternate care.
Anyone with a question about COVID-19, whether related to medical or social service needs, should call Delaware 2-1-1; or 7-1-1 for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Questions can also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.
DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to //de.gov/coronavirus.
In continuing efforts to keep staff and customers safe while maintaining consistent business practices during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Division of Water has developed an online application submission portal ( https://epermitting.dnrec.delaware.gov ). This service is being offered as an alternative to hand-delivery and/or mail-in applications for licenses and permits issued. While this tool was developed to help the Division better serve customers during this period, it is their intention to keep this service available for routine submissions even after the Division returns to normal business practices.
Submissions are now allowed and encouraged for the following applications:
| Wastewater: | ||
| Septic Permits | ||
| Site Evaluation | ||
| Septic Inspections | ||
| Septic System Repair/Component Replacement | ||
| Authorization to Use Existing System | ||
| Holding Tanks (New/Replacement/Repair for Private Systems) | ||
| Septic Site Waiver Request | ||
| Wetlands & Subaqueous: | ||
| Letters of Authorization & Statewide Activity Approvals | ||
| New Permit or Lease | ||
| Supplemental Approval for Lease/Permit | ||
| Jurisdictional Determination Requests | ||
| Water Quality Certification | ||
| Wetlands Permit | ||
| Water Supply: | ||
| Water Allocation Permits | ||
| Well Permits (use existing application) | ||
| Licenses: | ||
| Well Driller (New & Renewal) | ||
| Liquid Waste Hauler (New & Renewal) | ||
| Wastewater Operator (New &Renewal) | ||
Please note that this service is for submission and payment only, and electronic submission does not constitute application approval. The technical review and approval of applications submitted through this service will be processed by the appropriate staff in a manner consistent with all previous practices.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide scanned/digital versions of all necessary documentation that would otherwise be required for the hard-copy submission of these applications. It is also the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the submitted files are legible and complete.
Submission through this service will require the use of a modern web browser (i.e. Chrome, Edge, Safari, etc.) and a three-step process by the applicant:
Any subsequent communication regarding the technical review and processing of the application, up to and including final permit issuance, will be via email correspondence. Hardcopies of any issued permit/approval can be requested separately but may experience handling/mailing delays.
Please note that the Division will still be accepting hardcopy submissions, however, those submissions may experience significant processing and transmission delays. Therefore, it is strongly encouraged that applicants use the Application Submission Portal so that the applications can be processed more efficiently.
Please feel free to contact the Division at (302) 739-9949 should you have any questions.
More than half of the households in our nation have responded to the 2020 Census – that’s more than 79 million responses!
Current times are unprecedented, but they also present an opportunity to reach families digitally across the nation to respond to the census.
For this reason, if you have not already done so, complete your 2020 Census online this week during the Digital Action Weekend, May 1-3rd.
Please use #2020Census when posting on all of your social platforms.
It’s not too late to respond to the 2020 Census while being safe and practicing social distancing at home. Once you have responded, please encourage your family, friends and loved ones to complete the census, too.
Check out the Response Rate Map at: https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html to see how your hometown is doing and encourage your family and friends to participate. It’s a great way to track the progress of the nation’s self-response. The map is updated every afternoon to reflect the self-response rate of the country and of each state, county, city, census tract, congressional district and tribal area.
Stay safe everyone, and please keep encouraging people to shape their future now by responding to the census at 2020census.gov.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced that starting Friday those aged 13 or older are now required to bring a face mask with them to enter state parks, wildlife areas and reserves, and should wear them when they cannot maintain social distancing from other visitors. Those who do not bring face masks when visiting these areas may be required to leave by officers or staff.
This decision is in accordance with Governor John Carney’s thirteenth modification to his State of Emergency declaration, which requires Delawareans to wear face coverings in public settings. Visitors to DNREC parks and areas must wear a face covering where social distancing is difficult, such as on boat ramps, narrow trails, and when they encounter anyone not in their household including other visitors and staff. Masks are required at all times at the Ommelanden shooting range.
“In order to keep our outdoor public spaces for all members of the public to enjoy, visitors to state parks, wildlife areas and reserves must heed social distancing and mask requirements,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin. “We need our visitors to do their part to help keep these areas safe for everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Visitors are also asked to be mindful of the length and frequency of their visits, and to avoid peak times. The safest way to enjoy state parks is sparingly, as needed, and during off-peak times: before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. daily.
While most state parks, wildlife areas and reserves continue to stay open for Delawareans during the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” emergency order from Governor John Carney, DNREC has a few guidelines for visitors to stay safe:
Any failure to comply with the provisions contained in a Declaration of a State of Emergency or any modification to a Declaration of the State of Emergency can constitute a criminal offense.
Anyone concerned about an individual or group in any state park or wildlife area may contact DNREC’s Natural Resources Police via Tip411, DNREC’s smartphone app, or by calling the 24-hour DNREC Dispatch Center at 302-739-4580. Tip411 allows the public to easily report concerns. The app is available for free download by searching DENRP via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store.
For the latest information on COVID-19 in Delaware, visit de.gov/coronavirus.
Periods of heavy rainfall will be possible over the area starting Thursday afternoon and lasting into Friday morning. One to two inches of rain are expected.
A flood watch is in effect. Strong south to southeast wind will develop causing water levels at the shore to become higher than usual. Minor tidal flooding may develop.
Winds will increase through the day Thursday with sustained winds around 20-25 mph and gusts over 40 mph possible. The highest gusts will likely be near the coast. A Gale Watch has also been issued for the coastal waters for Thursday.
Governor John Carney on Tuesday declared Sussex County a hot spot for COVID-19 in Delaware and announced the initial schedule for the State of Delaware’s Coordination and Care community testing sites. Testing and outreach will occur in several Sussex communities that are at the center of Delaware’s COVID-19 epidemic. Governor Carney first announced the community testing and outreach partnership among the state, hospital systems, and others last week, with an initial focus on Sussex County.
The testing sites and outreach will be conducted in coordination with the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), hospital systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers, community organizations, and Sussex County employers. Testing is geared to reach the following high-risk populations: those with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, those living or working with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, family members or housemates of those working in the poultry industry, and those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension, or compromised immune systems.
“Sussex County has become a hot spot for COVID-19, especially in areas along the Route 113 corridor,” said Governor John Carney. “We are working with community partners to expand testing sites and share educational information in those communities. It’s critical to protect your family and yourself by following the guidance from the CDC and the Delaware Division of Public Health. Most importantly, stay home. If you have questions, don’t be afraid to call 2-1-1 for more information and assistance. Dial 9-1-1 for an emergency. It’s critical we all work together to get through this.”
Residents of Sussex County will receive emergency alerts on their phones through the Delaware Emergency Management Agency about the hot spot in Sussex County, as well as messages in partnership with the Delaware Department of Education and local school districts. Community members will see printed educational materials at testing sites and within existing food delivery services, increased billboard placements, and social media and digital advertising across the county stressing the urgency of the COVID-19 hotspot in Sussex County.
The State of Delaware and its partners tested more than 750 individuals last week during the first expansion of COVID-19 community testing in Sussex County. More than 35% of test results at the community testing events were positive for COVID-19.
Late last week, Governor Carney requested assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist in community testing and contact tracing efforts. The CDC has sent an epidemiology team to Delaware to help quantify the spread of the disease downstate, combat the COVID-19 crisis in Sussex County, and make recommendations to prevent even more widespread transmission.
“We are incredibly grateful for the CDC’s expertise, and assistance as we work to quantify and understand the spread of COVID-19 in Sussex County,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “This Epi Aid team will approach the issue from an epidemiological perspective and work to quantify the extent of the spread of the disease in Sussex, identify the transmission routes and provide recommendations for us to consider in mitigating the spread.”
The focus of community testing sites is employees of essential businesses, family members of at-risk populations, those exposed to someone with COVID-19, or someone caring for a sick family member with COVID-19. The testing sites involve both rapid and nasal swab testing, immediate case investigation for positive cases, connection to a resource coordinator for services like food and housing for those who are positive, and care kits to be given to individuals being tested. Care kits will be given to people who have a high risk of household transmission and do not have the means to purchase the supplies themselves. A doctor’s order or referral is not needed for these sites.
Each of the health care systems in Sussex County is participating in this community testing effort. There will be bilingual staff on site. The timing and locations of initially scheduled community testing sites are below. Nanticoke Memorial Hospital also anticipates beginning community testing within the week and will provide details for their testing plan once details have been finalized.
“Beebe Healthcare is committed to work with Governor Carney to develop a model for statewide testing that aligns the efforts of investigating the extent of the COVID-19 infection with the best clinical care for our population,” said Dr. David Tam, President and CEO of Beebe Healthcare. “We have led the effort to operationalize the State’s plan for community-based testing in Georgetown that brings together many different healthcare and community organizations to provide a safe and accessible way people can be screened, tested, and receive the social support and education needed to help decrease further spread of the COVID-19 virus. It is our hope that this testing model can be operationalized throughout Sussex County and Delaware by our healthcare and community partners. I am so proud of Team Beebe for developing and implementing our plan so quickly.”
“Bayhealth is proud to have our team assisting with the COVID-19 testing in Sussex County, and we remain committed to supporting all statewide efforts related to fighting this pandemic,” said Terry M. Murphy, FACHE, Bayhealth President and CEO. “We are very proud of our collaboration with the Governor’s office, the Division of Public Health, and our healthcare partners throughout the state. Bayhealth continues to serve all of our communities in central and southern Delaware through our Coronavirus Management Team screening hotline and with our referral-based drive-thru screenings, and by providing care to those who need it. Bayhealth’s community coronavirus management plan has proven a very effective system with an average of 450 people tested weekly for a total of 2,700 tested to date.”
“Nanticoke Memorial Hospital and Peninsula Regional Health System are committed to our community and support statewide testing in Delaware,” said Penny Short, MSM, BSN, RN, President Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Senior Vice President Peninsula Regional Health System. “We are pleased to work alongside both the Division of Public Health and our local leaders to develop testing sites to meet the needs of our population.”
“The Delaware Hispanic Commission wants to thank the leadership of the governor and his staff for identifying the immediate needs related to COVID-19, specifically in Sussex County where it has impacted the Latino community,” said Delaware Hispanic Commission Chairman Javier G. Torrijos. “These community care sites are important to provide the education and resources immediately to help curve the pandemic in our community. Without the resources and the multilingual education material, the impact of COVID-19 would be much worse.”
“The State of Delaware health and social service systems, local healthcare systems, private healthcare providers and local nonprofits are coming together in a coordinated effort to reach out and promote protective behaviors in Sussex County for all, but in particular for the Hispanic community,” said Jennifer Fuqua, PhD, Executive Director, La Esperanza. “La Esperanza has found that many in our community are faring as well as could be expected during this crisis, but that some are truly struggling with lack of access to a primary healthcare provider and basic needs. The community healthcare sites that the State is setting up this week in Milford, Georgetown, Seaford and Millsboro should help a great deal in educating our community about protective behaviors, providing screening and healthcare follow up, connecting people to social services, and alleviating the very real fears that people have been expressing.”
Delawareans with questions about COVID-19, related to medical or social service needs, should call 2-1-1; or 7-1-1 for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends. Questions may also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.
DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, visit: de.gov/coronavirus.