Community call-to-action issued for workforce support

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney expanded his community call-to-action on Saturday morning, urging all Delaware citizens with health care and child care experience to offer their expertise in Delaware’s fight against COVID-19.

Last week, Governor Carney urged citizens, businesses and nonprofits with access to emergency materials and supplies to support Delaware’s response.

The State of Delaware has launched an online application portal at de.gov/coronavirus to recruit Delawareans with health care and early education credentials to fill critical positions in our health care and emergency child care workforce.

Click here if you can offer to work in health care, child care, or early education.

“We need all Delaware citizens, businesses, and nonprofits to support Delaware’s response to COVID-19,” said Governor Carney. “If you have experience in health care or child care especially, please sign up at de.gov/coronavirus and help us fill critical positions. Thank you to all of Delaware’s health care workers who have been on the front lines, risking their own health and safety to protect others. Thank you to Delaware’s child care workers, our grocery store employees, teachers, and all Delawareans who are stepping up for their neighbors during this difficult time. We’ll get through this, but it will take all of us.”

If you are looking for ways to support Delaware’s response – and specifically if you have expertise in areas of medicine, public health, and/or behavioral health – please apply through the online workforce portal. Applications will be reviewed by the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) and shared with institutions in need across Delaware. Anyone who is licensed or certified to work in child care or education is also encouraged to submit their information for potential temporary employment by emergency child care sites. Applications will be reviewed by Delaware’s Office of Early Learning.

The community call-to-action also reminds Delawareans that donations of cleaning supplies and other items for emergency child care sites are urgently needed.

Click here if you are a citizen, business or nonprofit with materials and supplies to support Delaware’s response.

Critical needs include:

• Hand sanitizer
• Sanitizing Wipes
• Nitrile Gloves
• Tyvek Suits
• N95 Masks
• Face shields and/or eye protection
• Impermeable gowns

Delawareans with questions about COVID-19, related to medical or social service needs, should call 2-1-1; or 7-1-1 for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends. Questions may 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.

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SMYRNA (March 14, 2020) – The State of Delaware issued guidance today to assist non-public school child care facilities with their response to the global outbreak of respiratory coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

Based on advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delaware Division of Public Health does not recommend closing non-public school child care settings at this time. The data available from 74,000 cases that occurred in China, show that only 2 percent of individuals under 19 years of age tested positive for COVID-19.

“Children appear to be less vulnerable to this virus and based upon the science we have now, it does not indicate that closing child care facilities will help in reducing the spread of COVID-19,” said Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a practicing family physician. “Child care centers are controlled environments generally with small classroom sizes. Providers know who is coming in and out, who is sick, and are able to restrict access to help reduce risk. We are constantly evaluating information, but right now, parents should continue sending their children to child care to help provide structure.”

Suggested preventive measures that child care facilities should include:

• Increase handwashing procedures throughout the day for staff and children using soap and water and scrubbing vigorously for at least 20 seconds.
• Remind adults and children to avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Strictly enforce the child care facility’s illness policy for both children and staff.
• Separate sick students and adults from others until they can go home.
• Rigorously implement cleaning for toys and surfaces.
• Remove and sanitize mouthed toys immediately.
• Regularly launder soft items such as washable plush toys, bedding, and clothing.

More information on guidance for child care facilities is available online at the CDC website.

“While families can typically make do for a day or two when schools are closed, longer closures make it harder to find child care,” said Ray Fitzgerald, Director of DHSS’ Division of Social Services. “We know parents are concerned about their employment and keeping non-public school child care open helps to reduce that worry.”

Testing for coronavirus disease is not recommended for individuals who do not have any symptoms of illness. For individuals who have symptoms of illness (fever, cough, or shortness of breath) testing is being run at both the Delaware Public Health Lab as well as private labs such as LabCorp. Medical providers should evaluate patients and rule out other causes of illness first before recommending testing for COVID-19.

While testing for the disease at the Public Health Lab requires DPH approval, providers do not need DPH approval to submit test samples to private labs. With the addition of commercial lab testing now available, Delaware has enough capacity to accommodate its current testing needs. Providers only need to collect nose swabs as they would for flu to submit samples for testing. Commercial labs are required to report testing and results to DPH.

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 individuals who are hearing impaired, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, or email DPHCall@delaware.gov. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For more information, visit de.gov/coronavirus.

Sponsors can receive reimbursement for meals served at qualifying child care centers, adult day care centers, emergency shelters, family day care homes and afterschool programs as part of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates CACFP, which is managed locally by the Delaware Department of Education. Sponsors may be reimbursed for up to two meals and one snack per participant each day.  Participant eligibility is tied to income eligibility guidelines that are adjusted annually by USDA.  The current eligibility guidelines are as follows:

FOR USE BY CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM

INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR REDUCED PRICE MEALS

Effective Date July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019

Conversion Factors: Conversion is required if there are multiple income sources with more than one frequency (Example: a ‘monthly’ Social Security check and a ‘weekly’ wage stub), the participating agency must annualize all income by multiplying: Weekly income by 52; Bi-weekly income (received every two weeks) by 26; Semi-monthly income (received twice a month) by 24; Monthly income by 12

For more information please call the Delaware Department of Education Nutrition Office at (302) 857-3356.

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