March 27, 2020

Governor Carney Announces Expansion
of the Hospitality Emergency
Loan Program (H.E.L.P.)

Governor John Carney on Thursday announced the expansion of the Hospitality Emergency Loan Program (H.E.L.P.) to provide financial relief for additional industries impacted because of coronavirus (COVID-19). The expansion makes personal care services businesses - such as barber shops, hair salons, nail salons, and beauty shops - eligible for the program.

Eligible businesses must have been in operation for at least a year and have annual revenue below $2.5 million. The cap on the size of eligible was previously $1.5 million in annual revenue.

“Delaware workers and small business owners have been hit especially hard by the restrictions in place to fight this public health threat,” said Governor Carney. “Expanding the HELP program from the Division of Small Business will get more help to more Delaware families and entrepreneurs who are facing significant uncertainty. We all still need to do our part, and take the public health threat seriously. Stay at home. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. Practice basic hygiene. We’ll get through this, but everyone needs to pitch in.”

For more information about the Hospitality Emergency Loan Program, please click here .
State of Delaware Expands
Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Under the current circumstances, the Department of Labor has been authorized to expand unemployment insurance benefits to better assist Delawareans who have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The new Unemployment Insurance guidelines to be issued by the Secretary of Labor are as follows:

  • Workers will be eligible to receive unemployment benefits if an employer needs to curtail or shut down operations temporarily because of the Governor's State of Emergency declaration or the coronavirus outbreak.
  • A worker who has been ordered by a medical doctor to self-quarantine as a result, or due to risk of exposure to coronavirus COVID-19 will be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.
  • Parents or guardians who have been forced to quit or take unpaid leave from their jobs to care for children due to the Governor's emergency closure of schools will be eligible for benefits.
  • Workers who have been forced to quit or take unpaid leave to care for a loved one who has contracted coronavirus COVID-19 will be eligible for benefits.
  • If a worker falls ill to COVID-19 and is unable to work, they may be eligible for unemployment benefits.
  • Part-time workers may be eligible for benefits.
  • The definition of weekly work search requirements will expand to include a wide variety of activities that meet the requirement, unemployment insurance deadlines may be modified for mandatory appointments, and applying for training programs or mandatory re-employment service appointments and workshops.

Although DOL offices will be closed to public access during this State of Emergency, the Delaware Department of Labor remains operational and offers the ability for Delawareans to file for unemployment benefits online at the following link:  https://ui.delawareworks.com/  

Questions can be answered via email at  uiclaims@delaware.gov  or via telephone at (302) 761-8446.

COVID-19 Cases in Delaware
163 Cases as of 3/27/2020
Delaware currently stands at 163 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, 105 are in New Castle County, 21 are in Kent County, and 37 are in Sussex County.

So far 15 individuals have been hospitalized, and two individuals have passed away. 74 cases are in individuals between the ages of 18 and 49. For up to the minute data, please click here .
411 Legislative Avenue, Dover, DE 19903
Delaware State Senate Republican Caucus
302-744-4144 | Gerald.Hocker@ delaware.gov | www.delawaresenate.com