This guest column was written by Delaware Secretary of Education Mark A. Holodick and Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Josette D. Manning.

 

As the new school year gets underway, now is the time to remind local communities that continuing to protect ourselves against influenza, COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and other infectious diseases is a powerful way to also support Delaware students and school staff. The flu, COVID, and RSV are dangerous but preventable respiratory illnesses that can spread quickly, especially in close-knit settings. A single infected person has the potential to set off a chain reaction that can disrupt schools and communities, impacting everyone from students to educators, nutrition staff, school bus drivers, security personnel, their families and more.

Simple, safe, and effective prevention helps keep pathogens out of classrooms. Healthy lifestyle choices boost public immunity. To help reduce school disruptions this year, we encourage everyone to:

• Get sufficient sleep, eat nutritious meals, practice good oral hygiene, and get enough physical activity to keep our bodies healthy.
• Stay home when sick and know your school and work return policies.
• Schedule annual well visit appointments and stay up to date on routine vaccinations, which includes flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or bent arm. Throw the tissue away without touching the bin.
• Keep hands away from our noses, mouths, and eyes.
• Routinely clean surfaces.
• Learn more about viral signs and symptoms.
• Have a plan in place for if you are exposed or become ill.

For flu: Experts predict this year’s flu season will start as early as September or October. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu vaccine provided “substantial” protection for all age groups last year. School-age children are at higher risk of serious complications from the flu, so consider vaccines early in the fall. Everyone 6 months of age and older is eligible for vaccines, unless they have a specific contraindication.

For COVID-19: The public health emergency due to COVID-19 has ended, but the virus still requires attention. Cases may increase among different locations and populations at various times. As needed, consider wearing masks in crowded places, if cases rise, or if you are at higher risk for illness.  Take a COVID-19 test immediately if you have symptoms or test five days after exposure to someone with COVID-19. Those who test positive for COVID-19 should follow CDC isolation guidance. The CDC is now recommending everyone ages 6 months and older get the newly updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine to help lower the risk of severe illness, hospitalization or death from the coronavirus. These updated vaccines are expected to provide protection against currently circulating variants and will be available soon. Increased protection is especially important for those who are high risk, elderly, those in nursing homes, and those who are pregnant, immunocompromised or have lung and heart conditions.

For RSV: Cases of RSV tend to rise from fall to spring. RSV typically causes cold-like symptoms but can sometimes be severe, especially in infants and older adults. In May, the first RSV vaccine was approved for those 60 and older. Those most at-risk for RSV complications are children under age 2, adults over 60, and those who are immunocompromised or with a lung or heart condition.

Deciding to get vaccinated in the early start of the K-12 school year is a proactive choice that demonstrates a commitment to the health of the entire school community. For individuals and families who may have concerns regarding vaccine safety and efficacy, it is important to speak with health care professionals and rely on reputable sources for information.

Classroom environments must remain places where students and school staff can work, learn, and thrive without illness. We encourage all members of school communities to make informed decisions that prioritize their well-being as well as the well-being of their local schools. Together, we can all help lay the groundwork for a strong, successful academic year ahead.

 

Learn more:

• https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/ – Get current Delaware COVID data, testing, and vaccine information.
• https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/vaccine/ – Find FREE Covid-19 vaccinations, boosters and third doses.
• https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/fight-the-flu/ – Learn more about flu and RSV prevention.

 

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

DOVER, Del. (March 17, 2023) -  The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) saw a decrease in case rates and hospitalizations from COVID-19 over the past month and urges residents to remain vigilant and use the tools proven successful in the fight against the virus to continue these trends.

While rates are down from the peak of the pandemic, individuals are still being hospitalized at a concerning rate from COVID-19. From October 8, 2022 through the end of February 2023, 3,570 people were newly admitted to Delaware hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The daily total of new admissions was highest on January 6, 2023, when 62 people were newly admitted to the hospital that day.

Treatment is a proven tool available to individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and meet certain requirements to help reduce symptoms and prevent severe illness and hospitalization. It is available via oral medication (pills that can be taken right at home) or IV infusion, depending on what is best for the individual and their condition. Treatment is most effective if started within five days of symptoms beginning, so getting it early is key. If an individual who tests positive is over age 50, is unvaccinated, or has pre-existing medical conditions, they should contact their health care provider or visit a test-to-treat location to see if treatment is right for them. For more information on treatment options and test-to-treat locations throughout Delaware, visit de.gov/covidtreatments.

The other tools that have proven successful against COVID-19 include staying home if sick and getting tested if showing symptoms or exposed to someone with COVID-19; wearing a mask if cases are high or if in contact with an immunocompromised individual; and staying up-to-date with vaccinations and boosters. Individuals who are unsure about whether they are current on their vaccinations should visit de.gov/boosters to access a simple, easy-to-use chart outlining all current vaccination situations and age groups and detailing any action that should be taken.

As the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 is expected to end on May 11, 2023, the State of Delaware and those at DPH prepare for the many changes that will come with such action. The Division of Public Health has been working to update its data collection methods and determine which data sets will be available and most accurate for analysis following the end of the Public Health Emergency.

Full data on the impact of the pandemic in Delaware since its onset and current analysis continues to be available on the MyHealthyCommunity portal at https://myhealthycommunity.dhss.delaware.gov/home.

COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations:

• Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 332,526
• 7-day daily average of new positive cases: 55.7, a decrease of 89.4 average new positive cases reported since last month.
• 7-day daily average for the percentage of total positive tests: 6.7 percentage points, a decrease of 6.3 percentage points from last month.
• Hospitalizations: 78 current hospitalizations, 7 critical hospitalizations
• Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,342 – an increase of 54 from last month.
  *Case and testing data are based on reporting of lab-confirmed COVID-19 tests only. The number of COVID-19 cases in the community is higher than what is reported because of the use of at-home test kits.

COVID-19 Vaccinations:

• Total number of doses administered in Delaware (CDC data): 2,160,480
• Percentage of Delawareans who have completed the primary vaccine series (CDC data): 73.4%
• Percentage of Delawareans 5+ who have received an updated bivalent booster dose (CDC data): 21.9%

COVID-19 Case Vaccination Status Report:

The following reports capture a weekly breakdown of non-boosted cases, deaths, and hospitalizations for the time frame of March 6, 2023 – March 12, 2023.

Not up-to-date: Case – Hospital – Death

Weekly Overview
(03/06/23 – 03/12/23)

Not up-to-date Cases

Total Not up-to-date Cases — 396

Total Cases — 440

Percent of Not up-to-date Cases — 90%

Not up-to-date Hospitalized Cases

Total Not up-to-date Hospitalized Cases — 196

Total Hospitalized Cases — 244

Percent of Not up-to-date Cases — 80%

Not up-to-date Deaths

Total Not up-to-date Deaths — 0

Total COVID-19 Deaths — 2

Percent of Not up-to-date Deaths — 0%

Note:
Case and Hospitalization Count: based on RTS (Report to State Date)
Death: based on patient DoD (Date of Death)
Not up-to-date: all cases that are not completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and/or have not received the most recent booster dose recommended by CDC. (CDC’s guidance updated March 2nd 2023)

DE resident only*

 

Long-term Care Statistics:

As of Tuesday, March 14, 2023, there have been a total of 1,041 positive COVID-19 cases involving long-term care residents, and 5,663 residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.

Resources:

Individuals with general questions about COVID-19 should call Delaware 2-1-1, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211, or email delaware211@uwde.org.

Hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can 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, go to de.gov/coronavirus.

Delaware Emitirá el Beneficio P-EBT de Cuidado Infantil de la Primavera del 2022 el 7 de Octubre para Niños menores de 6 Años en Hogares Recibiendo Beneficios SNAP

NEW CASTLE (Octubre 6 de 2022) – Las familias de Delaware que reciben beneficios alimentos del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) obtendrán asistencia de alimentos de emergencia a través del programa de Pandemia de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios (P-EBT) para niños menores de 6 años que viven en sus hogares. Los hogares elegibles para SNAP recibirán el beneficio de cuidado infantil P-EBT de la Primavera del 2022 por la segunda mitad del año escolar 2021-2022 (Enero de 2022 a Junio de 2022).

La División de Servicios Sociales emitirá el beneficio de cuidado infantil P-EBT de la Primavera del 2022 el 7 de Octubre en representación de los niños menores de 6 años. Un niño es elegible para este beneficio P-EBT si se cumplieron tres condiciones desde Enero hasta Junio de 2022:

1. El niño es menor de 6 años.
2. El niño fue miembro de un hogar que recibió beneficios de alimentos SNAP.
3. El niño vivió en un área donde una o más escuelas o facilidades de guardería estaban cerradas u operando bajo horas o atendencia debido a COVID-19.

El Beneficio P-EBT de Cuidado Infantil de la Primavera del 2022 cubre los meses de Enero, Febrero, Marzo, Abril, Mayo y Junio de 2022. Por cada niño elegible menor de 6 años, el hogar SNAP recibirá un monto de beneficio estándar de $36 mensuales por cada mes de Enero a Junio del 2022 en que el hogar recibió beneficios de alimentos SNAP.

Los hogares de SNAP recibirán beneficios de P-EBT en sus tarjetas SNAP EBT existentes y pueden usar sus beneficios de P-EBT al igual que los beneficios de alimentos de SNAP para comprar alimentos elegibles en tiendas y mercados de agricultores que acepten SNAP EBT. Los hogares recibirán el Beneficio P-EBT de Cuidado Infantil de la Primavera del 2022 el 7 de Octubre para todos los niños menores de 6 años en sus hogares. Los hogares solo recibirán beneficios de P-EBT para niños menores de 6 años durante los meses en que el hogar recibió beneficios de alimentos SNAP durante el período de P-EBT.

“Estamos agradecidos de poder ofrecer este Beneficio Cuidado infantil de la Pandemia EBT a las familias elegibles de los estudiantes más jóvenes de Delaware,” dijo la Secretaria del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Sociales (DHSS) Molly Magarik. “Desafortunadamente, la pandemia de COVID-19 ha impactado a las familias vulnerables de muchas maneras significativas, incluyendo el hecho que sus hijos se pierdan de comidas nutritivas en sus guarderías o escuelas. Ofrecemos nuestro agradecimiento a la delegación del Congreso de Delaware por extender este importante beneficio federal de alimentos a esas familias”

La División de Servicios Sociales estima que otorgará $5.5 millones en beneficios P-EBT a las familias de aproximadamente 15,850 niños menores de 6 años en hogares SNAP para el año escolar 2021-2022.

Los hogares elegibles de SNAP recibirán una notificación por correo sobre los beneficios de P-EBT. Los hogares no necesitan realizar ninguna acción para recibir los beneficios de P-EBT.

La División de Servicios Sociales emitió el beneficio de cuidado infantil P-EBT del Otoño de 2021 en Junio del 2022 para los hogares elegibles de SNAP con niños menores de 6 años durante la primera mitad del año escolar 2021-2022 (Septiembre de 2021 a Diciembre de 2021).

Por favor contacte a la División de Servicios Sociales al 1-866-843-7212 si tiene preguntas sobre el Programa P-EBT de Delaware. Más información sobre el programa puede ser encontrada en: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dss/pebt.html

By Delaware Education Secretary Mark A. Holodick, Ed.D.

As we begin the start of another school year, I would like to thank each of you for your hard work and resilience, especially these past few years. During my time as principal and superintendent in Delaware schools, I would start each school year with colleagues by saying, “It’s go time.” This meant that all the summer preparation, planning and work was about to pay off, and we were ready for staff and students to return. An air of excitement and wonder would fill the halls, the buildings were prepared, and goals had been developed. Seeing students enter their first day filled with curiosity and excitement always reminded us why we worked so hard, and why we all do our best every day to help ensure successful school days are filled with effective learning and good memories.

 

As schools re-open this fall for the 2022-23 school year – and for the first time since Fall 2019 – our schools will look and feel more “normal” to our students, families, and educators. For many of us, that comes with great relief. We are no longer stressing about the number of feet between desks, helping students with proper mask-wearing etiquette, or balancing remote and in-person learning schedules. Exposures no longer mandate quarantines, and our school nurses are not tasked with extensive contact tracing.

 

Yet, as we begin to distance ourselves from the COVID-19 pandemic, we must continue to take care of each other and prioritize community need over personal convenience.  This school year, students, schools, families, and local communities will have greater autonomy and flexibility in decision-making around their health and safety. The most recent COVID-19 guidance issued by the Delaware Department of Education and Delaware Division of Public Health, which is in line with that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, relies on all of us to self-monitor. That’s why it is imperative that we embrace the “greater good” philosophy.

 

Being more mindful of our community includes getting vaccinated. All Delawareans ages six months and older are eligible. Getting boosted. Staying home and getting tested if you feel sick. Quarantining yourself if you are positive and notifying your close contacts so they can test, too. Finally, if you are exposed to COVID-19, please continue to wear a mask.

 

Students, educators, families, and policy-makers agree that we need to keep our schools open for in-person learning. We need our students and educators to be able to focus on learning. We have ground to gain following the pandemic, and recovery cannot happen overnight. Our children and school staff need this time together to focus on unfinished learning as well as accelerate learning.

 

The bottom line: We must continue to protect one another. We must continue to care for one another. We must continue to prioritize the protection of our school communities, as you have so wonderfully done these past few years. Our communities, especially our most medically vulnerable members, need to remain safe.

 

We can do this. It just takes us continuing to work together for the greater good. Have a great start to a wonderful school year and please know how much I appreciate you.

 

It’s go time.