May 22, 2020
Share Your Coronavirus Story
The coronavirus has affected us all in many ways. We know that people have strong emotions and opinions about the virus and the government's reaction to it. And we know that many people out there feel as though their voice isn't being heard.

We'd like to change that. So today we're launching MyShutdownStory.com . Our goal is to give everyone in Delaware a chance to tell their story -- whether you've suffered a personal loss of a family member or a business, or whether perhaps you've been inspired by great heroes in the community rising up to make a difference. Whatever your story, we want to hear it.

Visit  MyShutdownStory.com  today, and tell us your story.
Governor Carney on Friday provided an update on Delaware’s statewide testing plan, which aims to increase access in Delaware to 80,000 tests monthly. The plan is a partnership with the Division of Public Health (DPH), the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), Delaware hospital systems, primary care physicians and other providers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, pharmacies, and community-based organizations like nonprofits and churches.

Vulnerable populations, including elderly Delawareans and members of low-income and at-risk communities, are among those prioritized for community-based testing under the plan. Other priority groups include symptomatic individuals, anyone with known exposure to COVID-19, and certain front-line essential workers.

The state is working with partners to transition from symptom-driven hospital-based testing operations, to a proactive, collaborative community-based testing strategy. The state’s evolving approach is possible due to an increase in testing resources, and has two key components: Curative drive-through events open more broadly to the public occurring multiple times a week across the state, and targeted walk-up and drive-through events in areas of Delaware that are home to citizens who are more vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19 because of long-standing inequities.

“We know that widespread community testing needs to be in place before we can safely reopen our economy. With the help of our partners, I am confident that we have put a plan in place that gets us to the starting line,” said Governor Carney. “Through this collaborative effort, we will be able to diagnose symptomatic Delawareans and detect asymptomatic spread with this community-based strategy. I want to thank all of our partners who are stepping up for their fellow Delawareans during this crisis. Delawareans should continue to stay vigilant. Keep your distance from others. Wear a face covering in public settings, including on the boardwalk. Wash or sanitize your hands frequently. Now is not the time to let up.”

Locations for testing events are being driven by data related to high incidence rates for COVID-19 cases. Testing times and locations will continue to be posted on a new testing calendar on the coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing website several days in advance. In the case of Curative saliva-based events, Delawareans need to sign up for an appointment ahead of time and watch an instructional video on the same webpage. Other community-based events will continue to target locations in vulnerable communities who have historically lacked access to healthcare and social service resources.

The first community testing event using the newly acquired Curative, saliva-based tests took place last week in partnership with Nanticoke Hospital in Seaford, where approximately 600 individuals were tested in four hours. An additional 900 individuals were tested at an event in Middletown on Thursday in partnership with ChristianaCare.

The next scheduled large-scale Curative drive-through testing event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday May 24, at the DelDOT Administration Building (located on the campus of the Dover DMV). Pre-registration at  delaware.curativeinc.com  to reserve your place and reduce wait time is strongly encouraged.

Limited on-site registration will be available.

Additional vulnerable community-based testing sites and testing of senior high-rise housing locations in Wilmington is planned for next week in partnership with hospitals, the state and Federally Qualified Health Centers.

In addition to community-based testing sites, the Division of Public Health continues to work with long-term care facilities (LTCs) to implement universal testing and is working with medical providers and LTCs to create a sentinel surveillance system for COVID-19. DPH will also soon release testing guidance for businesses. Hospital systems will continue to administer tests both on site and in the community.

Delaware’s new testing strategy will be implemented alongside a robust contact tracing program to isolate infected individuals and their close contacts. More information about contact tracing can be found at:

The State’s vendor NORC is scheduled to begin accepting applications on its website:  norc.org/WorkingAtNORC  at 5 p.m. Friday May 22.
Marketplace Health Insurance
Coverage and Coronavirus
If you have lost your job or experienced a reduction in hours due to COVID-19, cannot pay your premiums because of hardships due to COVID-19, or if you are enrolled in a Marketplace plan and your income has changed, please click here for options that may be available to you.
Economic Impact Payments
To help provide additional assistance, the IRS is establishing a special phone line for taxpayers with questions about their Economic Impact Payments (EIP).   That number is 800-919-9835 , which is the number reflected on the notice mailed to taxpayers who receive an EIP. This phone line will help address some of the common questions people have about the EIPs .
Beach Restrictions to be Lifted, Visitor Numbers Limited in State Parks for
Memorial Day Weekend
Campgrounds remain closed through at least May 31  
Delawareans will resume activities such as swimming and sunbathing on Delaware State Park beaches for Memorial Day weekend, with existing restrictions on beaches being lifted by the Governor effective Friday, May 22 at 5 p.m. Out-of-state visitors who have maintained a 14-day quarantine since entering the state are also allowed to resume activity on Delaware beaches.
 
Since March, beach activities had been limited to exercising, dog-walking and restricted surf fishing as part of precautions against the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Adequate social distancing on the beaches remain a concern and will be closely monitored as the restrictions are modified. 
 
To carry out Gov. Carney’s phased reopening of Delaware beaches, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced the following for state parks:
 
  • Current restrictions on beach activity will be lifted starting 5 p.m. on Friday, May 22. Sunbathing, swimming, picnicking, surfing, kayaking, walk-on surf fishing and other activities will be allowed to resume for Delawareans and for those from out-of-state who have quarantined 14 days.
  • At least 6-foot distance will be required on beaches among those from different households, and groups of visitors from the same household may be no larger than 10. Masks or face coverings are encouraged to be worn on beaches.
  • Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore and Fenwick Island state parks will have capacity limits – between 50 and 70% of parking spaces – that will be enforced at entrances and with closure of parking spaces.
  • Visitors must bring face coverings, such as masks or bandanas, with them when entering state parks. Within state parks, face coverings must be worn in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as in bathhouses, park offices, concession buildings, boat docks, and trails and paths where others are present. 
  • Beach-area bathrooms and bathhouses will open May 22. Most bathrooms in other state parks around the state will also open, but some will remain closed due to distancing/cleaning considerations.
  • Cleaning services will be increased to multiple times per day at all open bathrooms and bathhouses.
  • For surf fishing, the emergency limit on number of persons per vehicle and now only one person will need to be actively fishing. But 20-foot distancing between vehicles will be required and drive-on beaches may be closed by officers to additional vehicles when the carrying capacity to implement social distancing is not possible.
  • State Park offices will open Thursday, May 21.
  • Visitors are encouraged to purchase annual passes to avoid anticipated delays for daily entrance payments. Annual Passes are available online at destateparks.com and resume availability at park offices starting Thursday.
  • Daily park entrance fees will only be collected via the automated credit card machines or self-registration envelopes provided at park entrances for those without annual passes or permits.
  • Camping and pavilion reservations at all state parks have been canceled through May 31. Full refunds will be issued, and no further action is required by the customer. Should the Governor’s state of emergency closure of camping be extended beyond June 1, further cancellations will occur at that time.

State park daily entrance fees for vehicles registered in Delaware are $4 at inland parks and $5 at ocean parks. Fees for out-of-state vehicles are $8 at inland parks and $10 at ocean parks. Annual park entrance passes are $35 for Delawareans and $70 for out-of-state, with discounted rates for military and for those on state or federal assistance, including those on unemployment. For information on pass and permit fees, visit destateparks.com/know/passestagsfees .
Important Links to COVID-19 Resources
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has put together a new web page providing guidance for the small business community on the Paycheck Protection Program – the centerpiece of the CARES Act. It includes a   side-by-side graphic  detailing the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Please visit the National Federal of Independent Business website for more information.

The State of Delaware has been working hard to implement COVID-19 response plans and provide the public with frequently asked questions and answers. For more information, please click the links below:



 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Additional Resources:



 
 

411 Legislative Avenue, Dover, DE 19903
Delaware State Senate Republican Caucus
302-744-4144 | Gerald.Hocker@ delaware.gov | www.delawaresenate.com