July 5, 2023

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office has determined that last night’s fire that damaged a New Castle, Delaware house was accidental.

The blaze, reported shortly before 10:00 pm, occurred in the unit block of Onaway Place in the Garfield Park neighborhood.  The Minquadale Fire Company arrived on the scene with flames observed on the rear of the dwelling.

State fire investigators were called to the scene to conduct the investigation.  The fire was caused by discharged fireworks igniting the roof causing an estimated $25,000 damage.  There were no reported injuries.  The American Red Cross responded to provide emergency assistance to one adult.

Office of the State Fire Marshal – Delaware

Michael G. Chionchio

Assistant State Fire Marshal

(302) 739-3312 Office Direct Line

(302) 593-9002 Cell

DOVER, DE (Sept 22, 2022) ­– The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is sharing upcoming opportunities for individuals to get vaccinated against the monkeypox virus (MPX). The current case count for MPX in the state is 35, including 23 cases in New Castle County, three cases in Kent County, and nine cases in Sussex County. Delaware continues to offer vaccinations to people at a higher risk of exposure.

Vaccine eligibility is being expanded to include all gay, bisexual and transgender or nonbinary persons having sex with men, or females having sex with gay, bisexual, non-binary, or transgender males. Delaware is also expanding vaccine eligibility to health care workers who are providing direct patient care to confirmed/suspected MPX cases in areas such as Emergency Departments, urgent cares, Federally Qualified Health Centers, DPH clinics, STI/HIV or sexual health clinics, and those at occupational risk such as laboratory staff that handle MPX specimens. 

Recent data show the risk of MPX to exposed health care workers to be low even when use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is incomplete.  However, to ensure the greatest level of protection against MPX, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends health care staff wear PPE consisting of gown, gloves, eye protection, and an N95 (or higher-level) respirator while caring for patients with suspected or confirmed MPX.

Vaccines remain available to those at highest risk including:

• Persons known or presumed to be exposed to someone with MPX in the last 14 days
• Certain individuals who have sex with men and who have had multiple sex partners within the past 14 days
• Those living with HIV or who are receiving HIV PrEP
• Immunocompromised persons (including those with cancer, solid organ or stem cell transplants, those taking immunosuppressive therapy, and individuals with autoimmune disease)
• Those treated for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the last six months
• Individuals traveling to an area with community spread of MPX cases.
• Those engaging in high-risk activities, including sexual practices, that increase exposure to MPX, such as:
  • Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and have had multiple, or any, anonymous sexual partners in a social network experiencing monkeypox activity, this includes meeting partners through an online website, digital application (“app”), or social event (e.g., a bar or party)
  • Transgender women or nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have sex with men
  • Sex workers (of any sexual orientation/gender)
  • Staff (of any sexual orientation/gender) at establishments where sexual activity occurs (e.g., bathhouses, saunas, sex clubs)
• People who fall into any of the identified high-risk categories who are also experiencing homelessness or incarceration

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not encouraging vaccination against monkeypox for the broader public or for everyone who is sexually active. Individuals should be aware that the vaccine, a two-dose series given 28 days apart, is not considered effective until two weeks after the second dose. Those at higher risk should continue using preventive measures and reduce engaging in high-risk behaviors both prior to, and after, vaccination to reduce the chance of continued spread of MPX in the community. 

Eligible Delawareans may also receive monkeypox vaccinations at: 

• Newark Urgent Care – Visit NewarkUrgentCare.org to view eligibility requirements and schedule an appointment. Vaccine clinics are on Thursdays, and there is no cost for the vaccine.
• Beebe Healthcare: Individuals can schedule an appointment at beebehealthcare.org/online-scheduling. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
• DPH clinics: Individuals can call the MPX hotline at 866-408-1899 for a screening evaluation. Walk-ins at DPH clinics will not be accepted. Monkeypox vaccinations at DPH clinics will continue to prioritize individuals at highest risk, as a result of confirmed or potential exposure to someone with MPX. As a result, your appointment may be scheduled a few days out.

Signs and Symptoms 

The symptoms of MPX are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. Symptoms usually start within three weeks of exposure to the virus. Most people who contract MPX will develop a rash, and some will develop flu-like symptoms beforehand. The flu-like symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, sore throat, cough, swollen lymph nodes, chills, or exhaustion. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they usually will develop a rash one to four days later.

If you suspect you are experiencing any symptoms associated with MPX you should immediately:  

• Contact your health care provider and discuss your symptoms and concerns.
• Self-isolate until all lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
• Avoid being intimate with others.
• Make a list of your close and intimate contacts in the last 21 days.

It can take three to four weeks for all symptoms to fully heal. While there is no specific treatment for MPX, antivirals can be prescribed, though they are not always needed. To learn more information about monkeypox, please visit de.gov/monkeypox. DPH posts MPX case and vaccine data on the website along with resources for the general public, and provides a separate page for medical providers.

DPH launched a hotline for individuals with questions or concerns about MPX. The hotline number is 866-408-1899 and is operational Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Questions may also be emailed to DPHCall@delaware.gov. Both the hotline number and email address share staff with the COVID-19 Call Center. To learn more about MPX prevention programs and resources, visit de.gov/monkeypox.

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The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), a division of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, is a nationally accredited public health agency recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for its outstanding dedication to driving change through innovation. DPH is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind, or speech-disabled can contact DPH by first dialing 711 using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free; to learn more about how it works, visit delawarerelay.com.

DOVER, DE (Aug 23, 2022) ­– The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing six additional cases of monkeypox (MPX), bringing the state’s total to 17. Of the six new cases, three individuals are from Sussex County and three are from New Castle County. All cases are considered probable pending confirmatory testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The New Castle County cases are all males, ages 26, 38 and 57 years old. The Sussex County cases include males who are ages 33, 48 and 58 years old. None of the cases are related to one another. All patients have reported recent high-risk intimate contact prior to onset. The 33-year-old also reported recent travel.

Currently, while there is no specific treatment for MPX, antivirals can be prescribed, though they are not always needed. 

Vaccines are available to those confirmed to have been exposed, or who are at higher risk of being exposed to the virus. Last week, medical providers who offer HIV PrEP began administering vaccine to patients. This week, vaccine access was further expanded to include those engaging in high-risk activities, including sexual practices, that increase exposure to MPX, such as:

• Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and have had multiple (more than one) or any anonymous sexual partners in a social network experiencing monkeypox activity, this includes meeting partners through an online website, digital application (“app”), or social event (e.g., a bar or party)
• Transgender women or nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have sex with men
• Sex workers (of any sexual orientation/gender)
• Staff (of any sexual orientation/gender) at establishments where sexual activity occurs (e.g., bathhouses, saunas, sex clubs)

Eligible persons can be vaccinated at the following locations:

• Beebe Healthcare, as of Friday, Aug. 26. Individuals can schedule an appointment at beebehealthcare.org/online-scheduling. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
• DPH clinics: Individuals should call the MPX hotline at 866-408-1899 for a screening evaluation. Walk-ins at DPH clinics will not be accepted. Monkeypox vaccinations at DPH clinics will continue to prioritize individuals at highest risk after a DPH evaluation: persons known or presumed to be exposed to someone with MPX in the last 14 days, and certain individuals who have sex with men and who have had multiple sex partners within the past 14 days. As a result, appointments may need to be scheduled a few days out.
• DPH and CAMP Rehoboth are hosting an event on Aug. 23 at CAMP’s Rehoboth Beach location. The pre-registration for this event is currently full. Walk-ins will not be accepted. DPH is also partnering with AIDS Delaware and the Delaware HIV Consortium to hold a vaccine clinic on Aug. 25 at the Community Services Building in Wilmington. This event is also full. Walk-ins will not be accepted. 

Individuals should be aware that the vaccine, a two-dose series given 28 days apart, is not considered effective until two weeks after the second dose. Those at higher risk should continue to use preventive measures and reduce engaging in any high-risk behaviors until that time.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of MPX are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. Symptoms usually start within three weeks of exposure to the virus. Most people who contract MPX will develop a rash, and some will develop flu-like symptoms beforehand. The flu-like symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, sore throat, cough, swollen lymph nodes, chills, or exhaustion. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they usually will develop a rash one to four days later.

If you suspect you are experiencing any symptoms associated with MPX you should immediately:

• Contact your health care provider and discuss your symptoms and concerns.
• Self-isolate until all lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
• Avoid being intimate with others.
• Make a list of your close and intimate contacts in the last 21 days.

To learn more information about monkeypox, please visit de.gov/monkeypox. DPH began posting MPX case and vaccine data on the website last week.

DPH launched a hotline for individuals with questions or concerns about MPX. The hotline number is 866-408-1899 and is operational Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Questions may also be emailed to DPHCall@delaware.gov. Both the hotline number and email address share staff with the COVID-19 Call Center. To learn more about MPX prevention programs and resources, visit de.gov/monkeypox.

# # #

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by dialing 711 first using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, please visit delawarerelay.com. 

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

DOVER, DE (February 25, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware as of Thursday, Feb 24, 2022.

COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations: 

• Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 256,337 
• 7-day average of new positive cases: 127, a decrease of 105.6 from last week. 
• 7-day average for the percentage of total positive tests: 5.0%, a decrease of 3.4 percentage points from last week 
• Hospitalizations: 98, a decrease of 45 from last week; critically ill: 11, a decrease of 2 from last week  
• Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,706 
• Total COVID-19 deaths reported since last week: 46, including 28 from a review of vital statistics records.   

COVID-19 Vaccinations:  

• Total number of doses administered in Delaware: 1,687,413 
• Percentage of Delawareans 5+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 71.5% 
• Percentage of Delawareans 12+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 75.9%  
• Percentage of Delawareans 18+ who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 77.4% 
• Percent of Delawareans who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 67.5%  

All qualifying Delawareans should get vaccinated. Individuals who qualify for a booster dose should get one as soon as possible. Booster vaccinations are available at any locations that offer the initial COVID-19 vaccine series. Visit de.gov/boosters for more information. For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine in Delaware, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine. Delaware’s latest COVID-19 vaccination statistics can be found under the Vaccine Tracker dashboard at de.gov/healthycommunity.  

COVID-19 Case Vaccination Status Report:   

The following reports capture a weekly breakdown of vaccination status for cases, deaths, and hospitalizations for the time frame for Feb. 14 – Feb. 20. 

Breakthrough Cases (cumulative since vaccinations began): 

• Total breakthrough cases: 21,924, or 3.68% of fully vaccinated individuals  
• Total breakthrough hospitalizations: 280 
• Total breakthrough deaths: 256 

A breakthrough case is defined as testing positive for COVID-19 after an individual has been fully vaccinated for two weeks or more.  

*Please note, these data may be updated as additional information is received. 

Long-term Care Statistics:  

As of Thursday, Feb 24, there have been a total of 3,126 positive COVID-19 cases involving long-term care residents, and 908 residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.  

Flu Update: 

There were 17 laboratory-confirmed cases reported the week of Feb. 13 – Feb. 19. As of Feb. 19, 2022, the most recent date for which flu statistics are available, there have been 658 laboratory-confirmed cases for the current season. The cases involved 441 individuals from New Castle County, 87 from Kent County and 130 from Sussex County. This number reflects only the number of lab-confirmed cases; the actual number of cases circulating statewide is likely higher as not all people with the flu seek treatment, and many cases are diagnosed through rapid test kits in a provider’s office versus a lab. 

All individuals 6 months and older are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against the flu if they haven’t already. Flu vaccines are available at pharmacies (including those in grocery stores), participating medical provider offices, Federally Qualified Health Centers (for their patients), as well as Division of Public Health clinics. DPH is also advising the public that the flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. 

For the latest information on the flu in Delaware, visit flu.delaware.gov. 

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: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  

Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.  

Delawareans 18 or older are encouraged to download COVID Alert DE, Delaware’s free exposure notification app to help protect your neighbors while ensuring your privacy. Download on the App Store or Google Play.  

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

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Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by dialing 711 first using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, please visit delawarerelay.com. 

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

DOVER – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, joined by Croda company officials, will hold a meeting Aug. 14 to update the public about actions taken since Croda’s Nov. 25, 2018 accidental ethylene oxide release, and steps moving forward for Croda. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug.14 at McCullough Middle School, 20 Chase Avenue, New Castle, DE 19720.