WILMINGTON, Del. — Governor John Carney on Wednesday terminated the limited State of Emergency in Kent County put in place on Monday, May 23 due to the barge fire occurring in the Delaware Bay.

“First responders fought the fires and successfully kept our community and our environment safe,” said Governor Carney. “We are terminating the local State of Emergency put in place to support their response efforts. Thank you to all of the parties involved in this emergency, including our partners in the Fire Department of New York.”

The State of Delaware, on behalf of Kent County, requested additional resources on Monday to support local emergency management agencies – including the Bowers Fire Company and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control – through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to combat the fire.

Click here to see a PDF of the Termination of the Declaration of the State of Emergency.

WILMINGTON, Del. — Governor John Carney on Tuesday issued a limited State of Emergency in Kent County due to the barge fire occurring in the Delaware Bay.

The Governor requested additional resources to support local emergency management agencies – including the Bowers Fire Company and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control – through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to continue combatting the fire.

“Emergency response crews have been actively fighting the barge fire for more than 24 hours,” said Governor Carney. “This local State of Emergency will help support their efforts to continue to fight the burn and assess the possible impact on the environment, the bay, and wildlife. Thank you to all the first responders keeping our community and our environment safe.”

This State of Emergency took effect at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, and will remain in effect until terminated.

Click here for a PDF of the full State of Emergency Declaration.

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Related News:
Crews Work to Contain Fire on Barge in Delaware Bay

Public Health Emergency authorized to aid hospitals, long-term care facilities with COVID-19 response

WILMINGTON, Del. — Governor John Carney on Tuesday signed an order that lifts the COVID-19 State of Emergency effective at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1. Governor Carney issued the State of Emergency on January 3, 2022 to control the spread of COVID-19 in Delaware communities and protect hospital capacity.

Click here to read Governor Carney’s order lifting the State of Emergency.

Also on Tuesday, Governor Carney signed a more narrow Public Health Emergency Order to replace a Public Health Emergency Order issued on July 12, 2021. This updated Public Health Emergency Order will allow hospitals and long-term care facilities continued flexibility to respond to cases of COVID-19.

Click here to read the updated Public Health Emergency order.

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Related news: Delaware School Mask Requirement to End ​at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 1

State of Emergency will terminate at ​6:00 p.m. Tuesday; Delaware school masking announcement is consistent with new CDC guidance; Vaccine or testing requirements set to end today

WILMINGTON, Del. — Governor John Carney on Monday announced that he will sign an order terminating the COVID-19 State of Emergency and the masking requirement in public and private K-12 schools and child care facilities effective at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1.  

The announcement is consistent with new masking guidance issued on Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Masking will not be required by the State of Delaware in K-12 schools, on school buses, or in child care facilities after 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1. 

The Delaware Department of Education (DOE) and the Division of Public Health (DPH) have issued updated guidance to district and school leaders to aid response efforts following the expiration of the mask requirement. 

Governor Carney also announced that vaccine or testing requirements for educators and state employees will expire at 11:59 p.m. today, Monday, February 28. 

The mask requirement in most State facilities will also be lifted starting on Wednesday, March 2. Additional guidance for state employees will be issued on Monday by the Department of Human Resources (DHR). ​

“There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about where we’re headed,” said Governor Carney. “Over the last month, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have fallen dramatically, and we are clearly moving into a new phase of this pandemic. Today’s announcement is consistent with new guidance from the CDC. And it’s consistent with the latest thinking from Delaware’s experts at the Division of Public Health. Delawareans who want to continue wearing a mask – including children in our schools – should be supported and encouraged to do so, even as we move into this new phase. We’ll also continue to encourage all eligible Delawareans to get up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.” 

On Tuesday, the State of Emergency will be lifted. At the same time, a more narrow Public Health Emergency Order will be issued to replace a Public Health Emergency Order issued on July 12, 2021. This updated Public Health Emergency Order will allow hospitals and long-term care facilities continued flexibility to respond to cases of COVID-19.

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El Gobernador también anuncia que el requisito de cubre bocas en escuelas terminara el 31 de Marzo

WILMINGTON, Del. – Este Lunes, el Gobernador John Carney firmó una revisión de la orden del Estado de Emergencia, revocando el mandato universal de cubre bocas para espacios interiores de Delaware que será efectivo a partir de las 8:00 a.m. del Viernes 11 de Febrero.

También en la modificación del Lunes, el Gobernador Carney extendió temporalmente el requisito de cubre bocas en las escuelas públicas y privadas K-12 y en las guarderías. Ese requisito, que aplica a los niños y niñas en edad de kínder y mayores, vencerá el Jueves 31 de Marzo a las 11:59 p.m.

La extensión temporal les brinda y permite tiempo a los padres para vacunar a sus hijos de edad escolar antes que expire el requisito estatal.

La fecha del 31 de Marzo también le permite a los distritos y escuelas tiempo para considerar los requisitos locales de cubre bocas y le brinda tiempo a la División de Salud Pública (DPH) y al Departamento de Educación (DOE) para trabajar con las escuelas sobre las actualizaciones de cuarentena y la orientación de rastreo de contactos.

Haga clic aquí para leer la revisión del Lunes.

Haga clic aquí para leer el Estado de Emergencia completo.

“En cuanto a casos de COVID-19 y hospitalizaciones durante el aumento de Omicron, estamos en un lugar mucho major de lo que estuvimos hace varias semanas,” dijo el Gobernador Carney. “Quiero ser claro en cuanto a esta cuestión: el COVID aun continua circulando en nuestras comunidades. Y el virus aún representa un riesgo de enfermedad grave, en particular entre aquellos que no están al día con sus vacunas. Sin embargo, tenemos las herramientas para mantenernos a nosotros mismos y a los demás a salvo. Háganse vacunar. Obtengan sus refuerzos. Es de especial importancia para los niños y niñas, donde seguimos viendo bajas tasas de vacunación. Para todos los padres presentes — la mejor manera de que sus hijos e hijas continúen dentro de la escuela aprendiendo y de prevenir de que se enfermen, es asegurándose de que estén vacunados. Es tan simple como eso. Quiero agradecer a todos los habitantes de Delaware por tomar en serio esta amenaza.”

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