Governor also announces school mask requirement will end on March 31

WILMINGTON, Del. –  Governor John Carney on Monday signed a revision to the State of Emergency order, lifting Delaware’s universal indoor mask mandate effective at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, February 11.

Also in Monday’s modification, Governor Carney temporarily extended the mask requirement in public and private K-12 schools and child care facilities. That requirement, which applies to children kindergarten-age and older, will expire at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 31.

The temporary extension gives parents time ​to get their school-age children vaccinated before the expiration of the statewide requirement.

The March 31 date also allows districts and schools time to consider local mask requirements, and gives the Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Education (DOE) time to work with schools on updates to quarantine and contact tracing guidance.

Click here to read Monday’s revision.

Click here to read the full State of Emergency.

“We’re in a much better place than we were several weeks ago in the middle of the Omicron surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations,” said Governor Carney. “I want to be clear about this point – COVID is still circulating in our communities. And the virus still poses a risk of serious illness, particularly among those who are not up to date on their vaccinations. But we have the tools to keep ourselves and each other safe. Get vaccinated. Get your booster. That’s especially important for children, where we continue to see low rates of vaccination. For all the parents out there – the best way to keep your child in school learning, and to prevent them from getting sick, is to get them vaccinated. It’s that simple. I want to thank all Delawareans for taking this threat seriously.”

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Masks to be distributed starting next week

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney, Lt. Governor Hall-Long and the Delaware Department of Education on Tuesday announced a one-time distribution of 125,000 KN95 masks to educators, students grades six and above, and childcare providers across the state. Masks will be distributed to Delaware’s public, private, and parochial schools and childcare providers through school and childcare liaisons.

“There is nothing more important than making sure our children can remain learning in the classrooms,” said Governor Carney. “We have learned the importance of multi-layer masks and masks that fit snugly on your face. We hope that this mask distribution will help students and educators continue to slow the surge of COVID-19 as they have throughout the pandemic. Parents, families and teachers should expect more guidance from their schools about when they can pick-up their masks.”  

Districts, charter schools, private schools, and child care facilities will receive KN95 masks from the state to support their in-person instruction efforts. Schools and child care facilities will make the KN95 masks available to staff members as needed or requested. This effort will add to the many mitigation strategies districts, schools, and child care providers have implemented to create safer learning environments, decrease the number of quarantines and offer as many days of in-person instruction as possible. The masks will be distributed based on the number of staff across all schools and number of students in sixth grade and up due to the size of the masks.

Child care providers will need to pre-register through a link that will be sent from the Delaware Department of Education. If you do not receive the email with the registration link by the close of business on Wednesday, January 19, you can email mask.distribution@doe.k12.de.us to be assisted with the registration.

 “Our school and child care leaders are working hard to keep our buildings open for in-person learning through operational challenges caused by the current COVID-19 surge,” said Dr. Mark Holodick, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “This is another support to help them do that, and I appreciate the state prioritizing these masks for our children, educators, school staff and childcare workers.”

This announcement comes days after Governor Carney signed a universal indoor mask mandate and extended the school mask requirement.

“The science remains clear that face masks and respirators are effective at reducing transmission of COVID-19, when worn consistently and correctly. We want to arm our schools with the highest quality masks possible to continue to allow students to remain in school and continue in-person learning. We appreciate all that schools and child cares have done to support mask use since the beginning of the school year,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay.

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$120M in total funding for childcare through ARPA; funding will support direct financial assistance for childcare professionals, and partnership with Delaware State University

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney, Lt. Bethany Hall-Long and members of Delaware’s congressional delegation joined childcare providers at Delaware State University on Monday to announce significant new funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support Delaware’s childcare industry and childcare professionals.

In total, ARPA is providing more than $120 million in relief for Delaware’s childcare industry. The federal legislation was signed on March 11 by President Joe Biden and championed in Congress by members of Delaware’s federal delegation – Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.

ARPA investments in childcare announced on Monday include: 

• $24 million for the Child Care Stabilization grants to help childcare providers statewide remain open and operating. This investment is in addition to the $66 million in ARPA funding that already has been distributed through these stabilization grants. 
• $10.6 million in direct financial relief for Delaware childcare workers.

Also on Monday, Governor Carney and Delaware State University President Tony Allen announced $10.6 million in state ARPA funding for the university’s new Early Childhood Innovation Center, in partnership with the Delaware Department of Education (DOE) and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). 

“Delaware’s childcare providers have stepped up and stayed open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing hospital workers, first responders, and other emergency personnel to stay on the front lines over the course of this crisis. They deserve our support and a significant debt of gratitude,” said Governor Carney. “This new funding from the American Rescue Plan will support childcare providers, help providers keep their doors open, and help them attract and retain staff. We’re also excited about our new partnership at Delaware State University, which will build on workforce development efforts statewide to support current and future early childhood staff. I want to thank President Biden and our federal delegation for making these important resources available.”

“We know that the first five years are critical to a child’s development. The earlier we make these crucial investments in early learning, we are increasing their ability to thrive by providing them and their families with the tools they need to succeed,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “Delaware’s childcare providers answered the call during the pandemic and remained open so that frontline workers could work to save lives. Thanks to President Biden and our federal delegation, this strategic investment in early childhood education, along with the new Early Childhood Innovation Center at Delaware State University will expand the resources available to our children. There is more work to do, but this will go a long way to help them meet the challenges they face and create an equitable system of learning.”

“Early childhood education programs are the building blocks to a child’s success. We know that children who participate in these programs are more likely to graduate from high school and enroll in college or job training programs. But with a workforce shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of resources, early childhood education programs are in crisis,” said Delaware’s congressional delegation of Senators Tom Carper, Chris Coons and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester. “That’s why we are proud to announce more than $120 million for the First State’s childcare industry from the American Rescue Plan Act – federal funding which will help childcare providers hire and retain the staff they need to keep their doors open. We look forward seeing these resources implemented to help grow and support Delaware’s early childhood education programs for future generations to come.”

“We are a workforce of primarily women, primarily BIWOC, many of whom are mothers and many of whom rely on government subsidy programs because they make just over minimum wage.  There are rarely benefits, there is rarely paid time off, and it’s a highly skilled workforce that is responsible for creating the social emotional and educational foundation children need to not only be successful in academics but all areas of life,” said Jamie Schneider, Executive Director of Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (DAEYC). “I am confident that by working together, we can elevate early care and education in Delaware to be a national example of how to solve the childcare crisis.  We must continue to work in partnership to make sure families in Delaware feel secure in going to work each day knowing their children are in high-quality developmentally appropriate childcare.”

“Child care is essential infrastructure for our state, and these investments will have a significant, immediate impact on Delaware’s workforce and child care shortages,” said Madeleine Bayard, Chair of the Delaware Early Childhood Council. “We look forward to continuing to work with policymakers to ensure quality, affordable child care is available to all children and families.”

“We know it takes a village to raise a child, and we cannot forget about those who make up the village,” said Dannaé Sewell, Director of Delaware State University’s Early Childhood Laboratory School. “The parents, guardians, community partnerships, and importantly, the early childhood educators. Keeping the early education workforce at the forefront is everyone’s job.”

Over the next five years, in partnership with DOE and DHSS, Delaware State University will receive a total of $30.6 million to support the construction and launch of the Early Childhood Innovation Center, invest in Delaware’s childcare workforce, and expand access to affordable childcare for Delaware families in need. The total includes the $10.6 million in ARPA funding announced on Monday. Under terms of the partnership, which is expected to be finalized this week, Delaware State University would develop statewide infrastructure for a unique pathway for Delawareans seeking careers in the childcare industry. The funding will also expand scholarship opportunities to support working professionals who are seeking additional education. 

“We have always known that early childhood experiences are critical to the educational success of all children, especially those of color and/or living in poverty,” said Delaware State University President Tony Allen. “As a longtime advocate for education reform, I am thrilled to see the State taking this decisive step to address the issue. At the same time, I am humbled at the trust placed in Delaware State University, but equally confident that we will deliver for families across Delaware.”

Governor Carney, Lt. Governor Hall-Long and members of Delaware’s congressional delegation have recently announced several initiatives funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

In October, Governor Carney announced plans to invest $26.4 million in affordable housing in Wilmington, $50 million for jobs training programs statewide, and $50 million to build a modern Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna. 

In Bridgeville last month, Governor Carney announced a $110 million plan to provide universal, wired broadband access for all Delaware homes and businesses. Delaware is aiming to become the first state to close every “last mile” with wired, high-speed broadband.

Additionally, Governor Carney and Lt. Governor Hall-Long announced a $100 million Community Investment Recovery Fund to support major, nonprofit capital projects statewide, and workforce funding for Delaware hospitals and long-term care facilities. 

Click here for the Community Investment Recovery Fund application for nonprofits. The application deadline is November 30. 

Visit de.gov/rescueplan to learn more about how the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) is helping in Delaware.

Click here for video from today’s announcement.

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Educator vaccinations expanded through state events and federal partnership with Walgreens; Vaccinations also to begin at poultry plants

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday announced an expansion of Delaware’s COVID-19 vaccination program for educators, school staff, and child care workers – in line with President Biden’s commitment to provide at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to school personnel by the end of March.

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), and the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) will host large vaccination events on Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14 for educators, school staff, and child care workers at Dover International Speedway. Early next week, DDOE will extend invitations for the Speedway event to educators, school staff and child care workers who have expressed interest in vaccination.

Additionally – through a partnership between the federal government and Walgreens pharmacies – educators, school staff and child care workers can also sign up for appointments at Walgreens to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. To prioritize educator vaccinations in Delaware through March and in accordance with federal guidance, Walgreens will pause new vaccination appointments for other eligible populations.

Educators, school staff and child care workers can visit Walgreens.com to seek a vaccination appointment at Walgreens. Due to supply constraints, there are a limited number of appointments currently available today. Several thousand appointments will be available starting next week, as Walgreens receives additional supply from the federal government. Educators, school staff, and child care workers will be notified when these additional appointments become available.

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), in partnership with Albertsons Pharmacy, already has vaccinated more than 5,500 educators and school staff, or roughly a third of those who expressed interest in vaccination, and more than half of the 5,500 are fully vaccinated. More than 2,200 Delaware child care workers have also received at least their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. DDOE will continue to host regular K-12 and child care vaccination events and notify educators as additional appointments become available at Walgreens. 

Delaware is currently in Phase 1B of its COVID-19 vaccination program. Visit de.gov/covidvaccine to learn more.

Also on Friday, the State of Delaware began shipping doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to poultry companies to begin vaccinating their most vulnerable workers. The State of Delaware and its partners have administered 253,535 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as of midnight Friday, March 5.

“We are building on our ongoing efforts to prioritize vaccinations for educators, school staff and child care workers across our state who have stepped up throughout this COVID-19 crisis,” said Governor Carney. “Our goal remains the same. We want to distribute this life-saving vaccine in a way that’s fast and fair. Until we can vaccinate enough Delawareans, let’s continue to follow the basic health precautions. Wear a mask. Avoid gatherings. Wash or sanitize your hands frequently. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Stay vigilant.”

DDOE, through its partnership with Albertsons Pharmacy, has coordinated the vaccination of education personnel and child care providers since late January. More than 16,000 educators and school personnel requested vaccination through DDOE. Roughly 4,000 child care providers also requested vaccination.

Learn more about Delaware’s COVID-19 vaccination program at de.gov/covidvaccine. 

Find testing events and locations at de.gov/gettested.   

Download COVID Alert DE in the App Store or Google Play.   

Anyone with a general question about COVID-19 should call Delaware 2-1-1. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211, or email delaware211@uwde.orgHours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.  

Visit de.gov/coronavirus for the latest information on Delaware’s COVID-19 response.

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About 2,500 Delaware child care providers will have the opportunity to be vaccinated this Saturday through a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination event at Dover International Speedway.  The event is a partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health and Human Services (HHS), Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), and the Dover International Speedway (DIS).

“Delaware’s child care providers have been vital to our state, our families, and our children throughout this pandemic, staying open to provide care to our children so other frontline workers could serve our state,” said Governor John Carney.  “We are grateful for their work and are pleased we can vaccinate them so they can continue to serve our youngest learners.”

The Delaware Department of Education has worked to help vaccinate more than 4,000 K-12 personnel and roughly 700 child care providers to date.

“Our child care providers and K12 employees are providing essential services to children across Delaware. We are pleased to be making progress in offering these frontline workers the chance to be vaccinated and will continue to work until everyone has had this opportunity,” Secretary of Education Susan Bunting said.

This is an invitation-only event.  A registration link was sent to child care providers earlier today. Anyone seeking vaccination through this event must provide proof of active employment in a licensed Delaware child care center or home.

Those vaccinated Saturday at the drive-thru event will receive their second doses through a similar future event.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006