Public mask mandate takes effect at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday

School mask requirement also extended

Additional members of the Delaware National Guard deployed to assist with non-clinical operations inside Delaware hospitals

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Monday signed a revision to the State of Emergency declaration, requiring Delawareans to wear masks in indoor public settings, including convenience stores, grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, bars, hair salons, malls, and casinos.

The mask requirement takes effect at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 11. Also on Monday, Governor Carney ​announced plans to extend the school and child care facilities mask requirements, and deployed additional members of the Delaware National Guard to assist with non-clinical operations inside Delaware hospitals.  

Click here to read Monday’s revision to the State of Emergency.

Click here to read the full State of Emergency declaration.

“Our hospital systems are facing a crisis-level situation with record numbers of Delawareans seeking emergency care. We need all Delawareans in the fight as we face this winter surge of COVID-19 to make sure our hospitals are not overrun,” said Governor Carney. “I know we’re all exhausted by this pandemic. But at the level of hospitalizations we’re seeing, Delawareans who need emergency care might not be able to get it. That’s just a fact. It’s time for everyone to pitch in and do what works. Wear your mask indoors. Avoid gatherings or expect to get and spread COVID. Get your vaccine and, if eligible, get boosted. That’s how we’ll get through this surge without endangering more lives.” 

Governor Carney on Monday ​announced that the mask requirements in K-12 public and private schools and child care facilities, which had been set to expire in early February, will be extended. The extension will ensure that Delaware students can attend school in-person without consistent disruptions. 

Monday’s revision to the State of Emergency also eases State regulations ​to allow and incentivize recently-retired educators to return to the classroom as substitute teachers in an effort to keep children in school.  

Both the public and school mask requirements apply to anyone kindergarten age and older. Children aged 2-5 are strongly encouraged to wear masks in public indoor settings, including schools and child care facilities. Children under 2-years-old should not wear masks due to the risk of suffocation.  

Masks are not required outdoors or while eating or drinking in restaurants and bars, but otherwise should be worn. Churches and other houses of worship are exempted from the mask requirement.  

Businesses responsible for indoor settings open to the public are encouraged to provide disposable masks to customers who don’t have them – and to post signage about the indoor mask requirement. 

Click here for a downloadable sign for businesses. Additional signs will be available here.

Also on Monday, Governor Carney deployed 70 additional members of the Delaware National Guard to assist with non-clinical operations inside Delaware hospitals statewide, beginning Tuesday.  

In total, more than 300 members of the Delaware National Guard are assisting with COVID-19 response efforts – including support at vaccination and testing locations, help with PPE distribution, and hospital assistance. Roughly 110 members of the Guard – separate from the 70 members deployed on Monday – are training to serve as certified nursing assistants in health care settings statewide to take pressure off hospital systems. 

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Order provides support to combat the Winter COVID-19 surge

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Monday issued a new State of Emergency (SOE) declaration, effective today, January 3, 2022, to combat the winter surge of COVID-19 and hospitalizations. 

Click here to read the full text of Governor Carney’s State of Emergency declaration.

“We still face a very serious situation with COVID-19 in Delaware, especially in our hospital facilities,” said Governor Carney. “The best thing Delawareans can do to support those frontline health care workers is to remain vigilant – and do what works. After two years of this pandemic, we all know what to do. Mask up in public places to protect yourself and vulnerable family members. Get your vaccine. And get a booster if you’re eligible. That’s the best way to prevent serious illness and hospitalization.”

The new State of Emergency declaration will:

• Allow the Public Health Authorities to set aside regulations in order to combat the surge in cases.
• Increase bed capacity in acute care facilities with assurances for adequate staffing, maintenance, and safety, and approval by the Division of Public Health (DPH).
• Enable members of the Delaware National Guard to work as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in skilled nursing facilities to care for patients currently in Delaware hospitals. 

Approximately 100 members of the Delaware National Guard are currently being trained to become CNAs. 

Visit de.gov/getmyvaccine to learn where to get your COVID-19 vaccine. 

Visit de.gov/gettested to learn more about COVID-19 testing. 

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Public Health Emergency authorized to continue COVID-19 vaccine administration and testing program

WILMINGTON, Del. –  Governor John Carney on Monday signed an order that lifts the COVID-19 State of Emergency effective at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13. Governor Carney first issued the State of Emergency on March 13, 2020 to control the spread of COVID-19 in Delaware communities.

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

Watch Governor Carney’s live COVID-19 Update and Virtual Town Hall on Tuesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m.

“Delawareans pulled together over this past year and made real sacrifices to limit the spread of COVID-19, protect their neighbors, and save lives,” said Governor Carney. “It wasn’t easy, and some sacrificed more than others. But I believe we’ll come out of this pandemic stronger for it. As we emerge from this crisis, let’s remember the 1,695 Delawareans we lost to COVID-19, and recommit to working together to build the future of our great state.”

Also on Monday, Governor Carney signed a narrower Public Health Emergency order to allow the State of Delaware and medical providers to continue COVID-19 vaccination and testing programs.

Monday’s order authorizes the Division of Public Health (DPH) to direct COVID-19 vaccination, treatment and mitigation measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. The Delaware National Guard may also provide support under the direction of the Director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and the Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS).

Delaware providers that offer COVID-19 vaccinations must do so at no out-of-pocket cost to individuals, according to the Public Health Emergency order. All health care providers, facilities and entities that offer vaccinations shall make those vaccinations available to any person meeting the vaccination criteria without regard to that person’s ability to pay, type of health insurance, or participation in any particular provider network.

Click here to read the Public Health Emergency order.

ADVISORY – VIRTUAL TOWN HALL

WHAT:          Governor Carney will hold a COVID-19 Update and Virtual Town Hall. Delawareans can submit questions by email to townhall@delaware.gov before the event, or comment during the live town hall.

WHO:             Governor John Carney

                        Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director, Division of Public Health

                        A.J. Schall, Director, Delaware Emergency Management Agency

WHEN:          Tuesday, July 13, 2021

                        7:00 p.m.

WHERE:       Virtual – de.gov/live, Facebook, or YouTube

Subtítulos en Español

Modification signed Tuesday makes technical changes to order

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday announced that he intends to lift the COVID-19 State of Emergency Order on July 13.

Governor Carney first signed the emergency order on March 12, 2020 to confront the spread of COVID-19 in Delaware communities.

“We now have the tools to prevent COVID-19 infection, serious illness and hospitalization,” said Governor Carney. “Get vaccinated. Ask your friends and family if they’ve received their shot. These vaccines are extremely safe and effective. Even if you’re young, healthy and not worried about the effects of COVID-19, consider doing your part. Getting vaccinated will prevent new infections among our immunocompromised neighbors, and help us keep moving past this pandemic.”

As of Monday, June 14, 68.3 percent of Delaware adults had received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Governor Carney also signed a modification on Tuesday that makes technical changes to the 29th emergency order.

Educators and staff in schools and child care centers are not required to wear masks when children are not present, according to Tuesday’s modification. Students and staff also are not required to wear masks outdoors.

Those who are unvaccinated are still strongly encouraged to wear a mask in accordance with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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School bus restrictions updated; Masks still required indoors; Delawareans should follow CDC mask guidance outdoors; larger events still require plan approval from DPH

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday signed a new COVID-19 omnibus order, the Twenty-Eighth modification to the original state of emergency order, updating school bus distancing requirements, eliminating most business capacity restrictions effective May 21, and formalizing additional changes announced last week.

The text of the order will be accessible here later today.

Beginning with summer programming, schools should follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on school buses when transporting students. The CDC advises schools to create distance between children on school buses when possible, and to follow masking and other COVID-19 safety precautions.

​This marks a change from the current restriction that requires schools to maintain a minimum of 3 feet of distance between students on a bus, which has resulted in a 23-person cap on school buses. The change should allow more students to return to in-person instruction starting this summer. Click here for details.

Additionally, Governor Carney’s order formalizes the following, effective at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 21:

• All capacity restrictions inside restaurants, retail, gyms, other business establishments and houses of worship will be lifted. Facilities can use as much capacity as social distancing requirements will allow.
• Masks will still be required indoors to prevent spread of COVID-19. 
• Outdoors, Delawareans should follow masking guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Risk for COVID-19 spread increases in large crowds that include unvaccinated people. In those cases, the CDC recommends that everyone continue to wear a mask. 
• Social distancing requirements will move from 6 feet to 3 feet.
• Customers must continue to remain seated indoors and outdoors at bars and restaurants unless a plan for dance floors and other areas is approved by DPH. 
• Events over 250 people indoors and outdoors will still require plan approval from DPH to ensure compliance with basic precautions to prevent spread of COVID-19.

“Delawareans have worked together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, and we still have more work to do. But we have the tools to prevent severe illness and hospitalization,” said Governor Carney. “Get vaccinated. Visit de.gov/getmyvaccine to find options near you. Ask your friends and family if they’ve gotten their shot. That’s the best thing you can do to protect yourself and those you love.” 

As of Monday, May 11, Delaware providers had administered 816,090 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. More than 55 percent of Delawareans 16 and older have received at least one shot. 

Visit de.gov/covidvaccine for information on Delaware’s COVID-19 vaccination program, which is now open to all Delawareans 12 or older.

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. 

Visit de.gov/coronavirus to get the latest on Delaware’s response to COVID-19.

Visit de.gov/gettested to learn more about free COVID-19 testing.

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