Joint Information Center Established for Media
DOVER (March 5, 2020) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing that the latest pending test result for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has come back negative. The individual is a Sussex County resident. DPH will not be providing any additional information about the individual. Nine Delawareans have been tested for COVID-19 to date, and all results have been negative. There are no other Patients Under Investigation (PUIs) in Delaware at this time.
Delaware has established a Joint Information Center to better respond to media inquiries. Reporters should call (302) 223-1085 or email DPHMedia@delaware.gov for the fastest response. The JIC will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. After-hour inquiries should be directed to Andrea Wojcik at andrea.wojcik@delaware.gov or 302-242-0287. The JIC is for media inquiries only. The general public should be directed to contact the Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-408-1899 or DPHCall@delaware.gov.
In addition, DPH continues to monitor 16 travelers arriving in the U.S. from countries with a Level 2 or higher Travel Alert (China, Italy, Japan, Iran or South Korea). The CDC recommended that such travelers be monitored for 14 days after their return. During the 14 days after their return, these persons are asked to remain at home while self-monitoring for symptoms. If any of these persons shows symptoms of fever, cough and/or shortness of breath, the person should call DPH at 1-866-408-1899 immediately to determine next steps, which may include transport to a local hospital for evaluation and testing. DPH began reporting the number of returning travelers being monitored, as well as PUIs, on its website https://dhss.delaware.gov/dph on Feb. 10. Numbers are updated regularly.
While the number of cases are increasing in the U.S., there is no spread of the virus in the community in Delaware. DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For more information on COVID-19, visit de.gov/coronavirus.