A Wind Advisory remains in effect today for the entire area as another round of strong and potentially damaging winds is expected, with wind gusts reaching 40-50 mph.
Winds will diminish later today into tonight. While breezy conditions are expected Saturday through Sunday, wind gust speeds will only reach 20-30 mph.
Another round of strong and potentially damaging winds are possible again Sunday night into Monday. Wind gusts of at least 40-50 mph are expected, with the highest wind gusts for eastern and southern New Jersey, and central and southern Delaware and Maryland.
Consistent with the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC), the Division of Public Health (DPH) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). This is a recommendation not a requirement. It is also not a substitute for existing guidance about handwashing and social distancing. It’s important to note that the primary purpose of wearing a mask is not to protect yourself – it is to protect others.
Public Health Guidance:
• The best defense against COVID-19 is frequent hand washing, avoiding being around sick people, staying home/physical distancing, and avoiding touching your face, mouth, eyes, and nose with unwashed hands.
• There may be a benefit to reducing asymptomatic transmission and reinforcing physical distancing through the use of face coverings. However, face coverings may increase risk if users reduce their use of other protective measures, such as physical distancing and frequent hand washing, when using face coverings.
Considerations:
• This guidance is for the use of cloth face coverings only. Members of the general public are not recommended to use medical/surgical masks, as doing so could further endanger critically low levels of personal protective equipment for healthcare personnel.
• Individuals may wear cloth face coverings but should practice strict hand washing before and after touching and adjusting the mask. Face coverings are not a replacement for washing hands, physical distancing while performing essential activities, and staying home.
• If you are sick, you should wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth if you must be around other people even at home.
BACKGROUND
What is a cloth face covering?
A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. It can be secured to the head with ties or straps or simply wrapped around the lower face. It can be made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk, or linen. Research has shown that certain more densely-woven fabrics may be more effective. A cloth face covering may be factory-made or sewn by hand, or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels.
How effectively do cloth face coverings prevent the spread of COVID-19?
There is limited evidence to suggest that public use of cloth face coverings during a pandemic helps reduce disease transmission. The primary role is to reduce the release of infectious particles into the air when someone speaks, coughs, or sneezes, including someone who has COVID-19 but may not show symptoms. Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for washing hands, physical distancing while performing essential activities, and staying home, but they may be helpful when combined with these actions.
When should I wear a cloth face covering?
You are encouraged to wear a cloth face covering when you must be in public for essential activities where it may be more difficult to maintain social distancing, such as shopping at the grocery store. Wearing a cloth face covering does not eliminate the need to physically distance yourself from others. If you are sick you should wear a cloth face covering, over your nose and mouth if you must be around other people even at home.
How should I care for a cloth face covering?
Washing your cloth face covering frequently, ideally after each use, or at least daily is strongly recommended. Use a bag or bin to store cloth face coverings until they can be laundered with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. If you must re-wear your cloth face covering before washing, wash your hands immediately after putting it back on or adjusting the mask, and avoid touching your face. Discard cloth face coverings that:
• Have stretched out or damaged ties or straps
• No longer cover the mouth and nose
• Don’t stay on the face
• Have any rips or holes in the fabric
Town Hall now has a drop box!
Due to COVID-19 and Town Hall being closed to the public, a drop box was installed in the front of Town Hall (right side of the front of the building). Town employees will check the box several times a day. Any payments that are dropped off after 2:00 p.m. will be deposited the next business day.
Governor John Carney on Monday issued the tenth modification to his State of Emergency declaration, banning all short-term rental units – including vacation home rentals, hotels, motels, and condo rentals – to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
Commercial lodging in Delaware will remain closed through May 15, or until the public health threat is eliminated. The order exempts certain Delawareans and essential workers who may need access to short-term rental units. That list of exemptions includes caretakers with family members nearby, health care providers, journalists, and Delawareans with public housing vouchers.
Victims of domestic violence who need alternative shelter also are exempted.
Monday’s order places additional restrictions on businesses, banning door-to-door solicitation and closing pawn shops, video game stores, and other electronics retailers.
Click here to read the full text of Governor Carney’s tenth modification.
Governor Carney’s updated order takes effect at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7.
“All of Delaware’s restrictions are intended to prevent a surge in cases, preserve our hospital capacity, and save lives,” said Governor Carney. “This is not the time for a vacation or tax-free shopping in Delaware. Delawareans also should not go out in public unnecessarily. Stay safe. Stay home. Protect your neighbors. We’ll get through this – but it’s going to take all of us.”
Governor Carney’s emergency order, including its modifications, have the force and effect of law. Failure to comply constitutes a criminal offense. State and local law enforcement agencies are authorized to enforce the provisions of the State of Emergency.
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.
Delawareans with general questions about COVID-19 or their exposure risk can call the Division of Public Health’s Coronavirus Call Center at 211, or 711 for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 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, visit de.gov/coronavirus.
There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms this evening into tomorrow morning.
Two rounds of severe storms are possible at this time, with the first of these rounds expected early this evening through about midnight. After a brief lull, another round of storms will be possible in the pre-dawn hours Wednesday morning with storms forecast to move offshore around or shortly after daybreak.
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 10 AM EDT SATURDAY…
* WHAT…One to two feet of inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways.
* WHERE…Coastal sections of Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware.
* WHEN…From 2 AM to 10 AM EDT Saturday.
Widespread flooding of roadways is expected with many roads becoming impassable. Some damage to vulnerable structures may occur.
Minor coastal flooding is possible with subsequent high tides on Saturday and Sunday.
A Coastal Flood Warning means that moderate or major tidal flooding is occurring or imminent. Be prepared for rising water levels and take appropriate action to protect life and property. Follow the recommendations of local emergency management officials.
Do not drive your vehicle through flood waters. The water may be deeper than you think it is. You will be putting yourself in danger and your vehicle may be damaged, leading to costly repairs.
Governor John Carney on Wednesday signed the ninth modification to his State of Emergency declaration, further limiting public gatherings and ordering essential businesses to take specific steps to enforce social distancing and fight the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19).
Governor Carney’s modified emergency order limits public gatherings to 10 people through May 15, or until the public health threat has been eliminated. For the purposes of the order, public gatherings include weddings, funerals, and related activities.
The order also requires new action from businesses that remain open. Under Governor Carney’s modified emergency order, businesses must:
“We will take action to enforce these restrictions if Delawareans, visitors, and businesses don’t comply voluntarily,” said Governor Carney. “Our goal is to save lives. This is a serious situation and we need everyone to cooperate. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. If you need to go out, stay away from others. Wash your hands and follow basic hygiene guidance. We’ll get through this, but it’s going to take all of us.”
Read the full text of Wednesday’s order.
Governor Carney’s order will take effect at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 2.
Governor Carney’s emergency declaration has the force and effect of law. 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 constitutes a criminal offense.
Delawareans with general questions about COVID-19 or their exposure risk can call the Division of Public Health’s Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-408-1899, or 711 for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 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.
DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.
Congress has recently passed a large COVID-19 relief and stimulus package. As with other aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, fraudsters are exploiting the relief and stimulus to victimize the public. The U.S. Secret Service is observing a rise in stimulus relief fraud over the past several days and expect the fraud attempts to continue throughout the pandemic.
Criminal actors are using a variety of means to contact potential victims. In one instance, the criminal actors are using spoofed email address posing as U.S. Treasury officials requesting that the victim provide personal identifying information (PII) so that they can receive their share of the stimulus.
Other than via email, criminal actors are contacting potential victims via SMS/text, robocalls, and other messaging platforms. Through texts, criminal actors are sending links which directs individual to a website which then prompts the potential victim to enter PII and other sensitive information, such as bank account numbers, email addresses, and passwords.
The attack contains the victim’s real name, giving the text an appearance of legitimacy. Official stimulus/relief information regarding COVID-19 will never be sent via text/SMS or any other messaging platforms.
Foreign partners are also seeing an uptick in COVID-19 stimulus relief fraud. The U.S. Secret Service anticipates instances of similar fraud affecting U.S. citizens in the coming weeks. The method is the same – a potential victim will receive a text message directing them to a link. Once they reach the link, they are prompted to enter a variety of PII data.
The U.S. Secret Service stresses that individual seeking information about the stimulus/relief program to contact the specific government agency via its website for guidance. Individuals should follow protocols published by those government websites. During this time, it is stressed that the public maintain an increased vigilance when providing any PII or other privileged and protected information.
The U.S. Secret Service is working with domestic and foreign law enforcement partners, along with the private sector, to disrupt and dismantle COVID-19 related fraud schemes. If anyone has any information related to this alert, the GIOC can be contact at GIOC@usss.dhs.gov.
TODAY IS CENSUS DAY!
We all have a say in the outcome of the 2020 Census, and it can help Delaware secure $3 Billion in funding and maintain fair representation in Congress. All you have to do is complete and return your 2020 Census form. It is a simple civic duty with enormous impact.
GET COUNTED!
Go online to my2020census.gov or call 1-844-330-2020 to complete your Census today and help shape Delaware’s Future!
SHARE ON SOCIAL!
Complete your Census today and share on your organization’s social media to remind others to do the same.
Governor John Carney on Monday signed the eighth modification to his State of Emergency declaration, which allows child care programs in Delaware to be designated as emergency child care sites in an effort to assist essential personnel during the coronavirus crisis.
Read the full text of Monday’s order.
Starting April 6 and continuing until the State of Emergency is lifted, child care may only be provided by child care centers and child care homes that have been designated as “Emergency Child Care Sites” by the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). In order to be an emergency child care site, child care centers and homes must certify that they are only providing child care to children of personnel working for essential businesses, as defined by Governor Carney’s State of Emergency, and cannot work from home.
“We are doing everything we can to prevent a spike in coronavirus cases that could overwhelm our hospital system, and health care workers are on the front lines of Delaware’s response,” said Governor Carney. “This new order will make sure Delaware’s health care workers and other first responders can stay at work, and keep our communities healthy, by providing them access to emergency child care services. We need all Delawareans to do their part. Stay at home. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. Wash your hands. Stay informed. We’ll get through this – but we all need to do our part.”
The order also allows DSCYF to create a process by which families can enroll their children in designated emergency child care if their current child care facility temporarily closes. DSCYF worked with the Delaware Division of Public Health to create strict health and safety guidelines to help child care providers prepare their facilities. Before being designated as an emergency child care site by DSCYF, a provider must demonstrate that they are able to and will adhere to the following requirements developed by the Office of Child Care Licensing and the Division of Public Health.
Interested providers must submit an emergency child care site application online by April 3. As of April 6, all other child care facilities must close until the end of the Governor’s State of Emergency.
“We are extremely grateful for the child care providers that are able to keep their doors open and make it possible for those providing essential services to serve Delawareans during this public health emergency. During this time, child care workers, like other essential personnel, are on the front lines adapting, adjusting and working to help Delaware get through this crisis. Our child care workers keep our children safe every single day, and now, they must do so under very difficult circumstances. We cannot thank them enough and we will continue to work with them during this time,” said Delaware Children’s Department Secretary Josette Manning.
Child care providers and caregivers should check coronavirus.delaware.gov/child-care/ in the coming days for information on how to apply to be an emergency child care site, what the requirements are in order to comply with the designation and how to certify essential personnel status and temporarily enroll children.
Also under Monday’s order, state buildings and essential businesses that Delaware’s Public Health Authority deems high-risk shall screen every employee, visitor and member of the public upon entering. Delaware’s Public Health Authority shall develop and publicly post the screening tool to be used by high-risk essential businesses. All state buildings and essential businesses shall display signage that cautions individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 not to enter the premises.
Also, all hospitals, nursing and residential facilities, and ambulatory health care services in Delaware, as categorized by the Division of Small Business, shall comply with the Public Health Authority’s guidance for the use of Personal Protective Equipment.
Delawareans with questions about COVID-19 or their exposure risk can call the Division of Public Health’s Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-408-1899, or 711 for people who are hearing impaired, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Delawareans can also email DPHCall@delaware.gov.
For the latest on Delaware’s response, visit de.gov/coronavirus.