Protect your loved ones: know your status, get tested today

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) on Friday announced updates to the State of Delaware’s testing strategy, expanding access to free COVID-19 statewide and providing consistent options for Delawareans to get tested.

The State of Delaware will shift COVID-19 testing from mobile to fixed sites beginning Monday, September 14, 2020.  The transition to more permanent, fixed testing sites will expand testing opportunities and provide more testing locations across the state.

Testing sites will be located in several areas throughout Delaware, and include eight (8) drive-through Walgreens locations (five of them newly added), five (5) State Service Center sites; and six (6) Public Health clinics. Testing services will be offered five to seven days per week, depending on the location.

View the new fixed testing site locations by county.

Find COVID-19 testing sites statewide.

“Delaware has one of the most effective COVID-19 testing programs in the country, and these updates to our statewide plan will make testing even more accessible for all Delawareans,” said Governor Carney. “The fact is, testing for COVID-19 is the best way to track the spread of this virus across our state and country. It’s also the way we contain potential outbreaks. Please consider getting a free test by visiting de.gov/gettested.”

“We are committed to providing easy access to testing for all,” said A.J. Schall, Director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency. “This move provides consistent sites across the state, expanded hours, and an in-home option to make sure everyone has access to testing.”

Testing, identifying positive cases, and making contact with close contacts of those individuals is crucial to help prevent further transmission in the community.

“We continue to see community spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 throughout the state. That is why it is so important that consistent, stable testing availability continues to be available to Delawareans when and where they need it, regardless of symptoms or insurance,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health. “We will continue to encourage testing for individuals, especially those who have come in close contact with a positive case and those with frequent or high-risk contact with others.”

The full list of testing locations, hours, and registration options will continue to be available on Delaware’s COVID-19 website at de.gov/gettested.

Registration varies by the venue, but Walgreens sites do not require advanced registration. Individuals can register in advance for testing at the State Service Center locations at Delaware.curativeinc.com while appointments at Public Health clinics can be made by calling the listed phone numbers. The list of the new fixed testing site locations by county can be viewed here.

All testing is free of charge with results expected in 48-72 hours.  Types of tests vary by location but include saliva-based tests and swabs that swab just inside the nostrils.

In addition to these state-supported fixed testing sites, COVID-19 testing continues to be available through most Delaware hospitals, private labs, primary care providers, some urgent care centers,  and Federally Qualified Health Centers for vulnerable populations. The State of Delaware also expanded options for COVID-19 detection through an at-home testing. Click here to learn more about the at-home testing option.

Anyone with a question about COVID-19, whether related to medical or social service needs, should call Delaware 2-1-1. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Questions can also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.

Report a business for COVID-19 non-compliance using this form. 

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus. 

###

NEW CASTLE (June 1, 2020) – As a way to reach vulnerable populations, the State of Delaware will begin coronavirus testing at 10 Wilmington high-rise buildings on Tuesday, June 2, with the bulk of the testing being conducted by the Division of Public Health starting Wednesday, June 3.

On Tuesday, June 2, the State, in partnership with the Wilmington Housing Authority, Westside Family Healthcare and the Saint Francis LIFE Center will provide viral tests to seniors from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and distribute care kits and educational materials at Baynard Apartments, 309 W. 18th St.

Then beginning on Wednesday, June 3, 20-person teams, including members of Delaware’s Medical Reserve Corps and the Delaware Association of Physician Assistants, will go door-to-door at a total of nine high-rise buildings over three separate days. At each location, there will be a Division of Public Health lead. The medical providers will bring nasal swab testing to people who typically may not be able to leave their homes.

This testing is being done in partnership with the City of Wilmington, the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the Delaware Association of Physician Assistants.

“We know that seniors and low-income communities in our state are experiencing disproportionate rates of coronavirus infection,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), and a practicing family physician. “Meeting communities where they are through this targeted testing in Wilmington’s high-rises will help us identify individuals who are positive for COVID-19, provide them with the supports and resources they need to isolate from others, and, ultimately, slow the transmission of this disease.”

“We are on a mission in Wilmington to protect each other from COVID-19 and to keep the virus from spreading,” said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki. “The State has been providing invaluable guidance to us since the start of the pandemic in Delaware and we appreciate these additional efforts to reach our City’s most vulnerable population through more and more testing.”

“From the start of this health crisis, Wilmington City Council has been expressing the need for more testing locations here in the city for our most vulnerable populations,” said Wilmington City Council President Hanifa Shabazz. “I am so glad that we have been able to work with partners to provide this much-needed service. “

The schedule for the Division of Public Health testing is:

Wednesday, June 3: Terry Apartments, 2400 N. Broom St.; Park View Apartments, 1800 N. Broom St.; and Compton Towers/Apartments, 325 E. Fifth St.

Thursday, June 4: Windsor Apartments, 500 N. Walnut St.; Ingleside Apartments, 1005 N. Franklin St.; and Luther Towners II, 1420 N. Franklin St.

Monday, June 8: Luther Towers I, 1201 N. Harrison St.; Lincoln Towers, 1800 N. DuPont St.; and The Antonian, 1701 W. 10th St.

On May 8, Governor John Carney announced a significant statewide expansion of Delaware’s community-based testing program, conducting 80,000 tests per month. The State of Delaware is prioritizing testing under the program for:

• Any symptomatic individual.
• Anyone with known exposure to COVID-19.
• Vulnerable Delaware populations, including elderly Delawareans and members of low-income communities.
• Certain front-line essential workers.

For more information on Delaware’s testing program, including a testing calendar, go to:
https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing/

-30-

The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

SMYRNA (June 1, 2020) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing two additional fatalities related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is providing an update on the number of positive cases and recovered individuals. All data reported through the daily updates are based on data received as of 6:00 p.m. the previous day.

DPH is sharing information regarding the following upcoming state-conducted community saliva-based drive-thru testing events. People are strongly encouraged to pre-register at delaware.curativeinc.com to reserve your place and reduce wait time for this viral test. Limited on-site registration will be available. Individuals are asked not to eat, drink, or brush your teeth for 20 minutes prior to taking the test.

• Tuesday, June 2, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Beacon Middle School, 19483 John J Williams Highway, Lewes.
• Wednesday, June 3, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Booker T. Washington Elementary School, 901 Forest St., Dover.
• Thursday, June 4, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Bridgeville Fire Company, 311 Market St., Bridgeville.

Health care systems and hospitals continue to schedule testing at their free-standing sites. Information regarding the free-standing testing sites, as well as additional community testing sites as they are scheduled, will be listed on the testing section of the Delaware coronavirus website at: https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing/.

Beginning today, DPH Community Health employees will begin conducting contact tracing and case investigations in the community. DPH field teams of two will personally visit individuals for whom DPH has no phone number to advise them they have a positive test result for COVID-19, or have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The DPH employees will have state employee identification and most likely will be wearing a shirt that identifies them as a DPH employee. They will also be wearing a mask, gloves, and may even be wearing a face shield. They will request permission to ask the person a series of questions, but will not request to enter the home unless they are unable to maintain the individual’s privacy outside the home. Contact tracers do not ask for bank account or Social Security information. An individual’s information will not be shared with any person or organization, and will only be used to help DPH monitor a person’s health status through additional phone calls to that person to help stop the spread of the disease. DPH does not release any personal information to the public. For additional information about contact tracing, visit https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/contact-tracing/.

In total, 368 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranged in age from 21 to 103 years old. Of those who have died, 192 were females and 176 were males. A total of 172 individuals were from New Castle County, 63 were from Kent County, and 133 were from Sussex County.

The most recent deaths announced today ranged in age from 30 to 77. Both individuals were male New Castle County residents with underlying health conditions.

To protect personal health information, DPH will not confirm specific information about any individual case, even if other persons or entities disclose it independently.

The latest Delaware COVID-19 case statistics* cumulatively since March 11, provided as of 6 p.m., Sunday, May 31, include:

• 9,605 total positive cases
• New Castle County cases: 3,838
• Kent County cases: 1,440
• Sussex County cases: 4,272
• Unknown County: 55
• Females: 5,271; Males: 4,289; Unknown: 45
• Age range: 0 to 103
• Currently hospitalized: 159; Critically ill: 32 (This data represents individuals currently hospitalized in a Delaware hospital regardless of residence, and is not cumulative.)
• Delawareans recovered: 5,353
• 52,842 negative cases**

*Data are provisional and subject to change.

**Data on negative cases are preliminary, based on negative results reported to DPH by state and commercial laboratories performing analysis. 

Additional demographic data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, including race/ethnicity, more age-specific data and rates information by ZIP code, can be found on the Division of Public Health’s My Healthy Community data portal.

Delaware is considering patients fully recovered seven days after the resolution of their symptoms. Three days after symptoms resolve, patients are no longer required to self-isolate at home; however, they must continue to practice strict social distancing for the remaining four days before returning to their normal daily routine.

If you are sick with any of the following symptoms, stay home: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, chills, shaking with chills, loss of smell or taste. Other symptoms such as headache or digestive symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or lack of appetite) have been identified as potential symptoms related to COVID-19 and may prompt further screening, action or investigation. If you are sick and need essential supplies, ask someone else to go to the grocery store or the pharmacy to get what you need.

If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or have symptoms of illness, make sure to distance yourself from others, particularly vulnerable populations. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions – including serious heart conditions, chronic lung conditions, including moderate to severe asthma, severe obesity and those who are immunocompromised, including through cancer treatment – may have a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Individuals who have complaints about out-of-state individuals violating the Governor’s State of Emergency Order, or violating the public gathering restrictions, should contact state or local law enforcement. Concerns that a business may be violating operating restrictions should be directed to: COVID.DOJ@delaware.gov. Questions related to business re-openings or operations as businesses reopen should go to COVID19FAQ@delaware.gov.

Individuals with questions about COVID-19 should call Delaware 2-1-1, or email delaware211@uwde.org. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov. Questions regarding unemployment claims should be emailed to: UIClaims@delaware.gov.

In addition, the Division of Public Health asks any Delaware health care, long-term care, residential, or other high-risk facility with questions or concerns to email: [DPH_PAC@delaware.gov%20]DPH_PAC@delaware.gov or call the DPH Call Center at 1-866-408-1899 and press ext. 2.

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.

Looking for coronavirus testing locations in Sussex County? See below for dates, times, and locations starting today, April 29 thru May 4, 2020. 

• Community Testing Site hosted by Beebe Healthcare in the parking lot between JD Shuckers and the Veteran’s Administration off of Rt. 404 in Georgetown: Wednesday, April 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Community Testing Site hosted by Bayhealth at the DHSS State Services Center in Milford located at 253 NE Front Street: Thursday, April 30 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Community Testing Site hosted by Beebe Healthcare in the parking lot between JD Shuckers and the Veteran’s Administration off of Rt. 404 in Georgetown: Friday, May 1 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Community Testing Site hosted by Bayhealth at the DHSS State Services Center in Milford located at 253 NE Front Street: Saturday, May 2 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Community Testing Site hosted by Beebe Healthcare in the parking lot between JD Shuckers and the Veteran’s Administration off of Rt. 404 in Georgetown: Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Community Testing Site hosted by Bayhealth at the DHSS State Services Center in Milford located at 253 NE Front Street: Monday, May 4 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The focus of community testing sites is employees of essential businesses, family members of at-risk populations, those exposed to someone with COVID-19, or someone caring for a sick family member with COVID-19. The testing sites involve both rapid and nasal swab testing, immediate case investigation for positive cases, connection to a resource coordinator for services like food and housing for those who are positive, and care kits to be given to individuals being tested. Care kits will be given to people who have a high risk of household transmission and do not have the means to purchase the supplies themselves. A doctor’s order or referral is not needed for these sites. 

Each of the health care systems in Sussex County is participating in this community testing effort. There will be bilingual staff on site. Nanticoke Memorial Hospital also anticipates beginning community testing within the week and will provide details for their testing plan once details have been finalized. 

Download the flyer: Coronavirus Testing Sussex County April 28 thru May 4 2020

See the full press release from April 27, 2020 from the Governor’s office.