April 15, 4:45 p.m.
Delaware COVID-19 cases pass 2,000
According to the Division of Public Health’s coronavirus case tracker, Delaware’s cumulative cases of the virus have passed 2,000.
Since March 11 there have been 345 cases in Kent County, 974 cases in New Castle County and 678 cases in Sussex County. There are an additional 17 cases that have not been categorized into a county yet.
Currently there are 201 individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications.
These figures will be updated the DPH provides more information.
April 15, 1 p.m.
Delaware Delivers for Heroes
Help feed Delaware’s front line heroes and support local restaurants.
Delaware Today and Delaware Business Times have established a program designed to give back to healthcare workers dealing with the crisis, support local restaurants and engage our readership.
Delaware Delivers for Heroes is an initiative to raise money to purchase gift cards from local restaurants open for takeout and delivery and distribute them to healthcare providers on the front lines across our state.
All the money raised will be spent at local restaurants, and gift cards will go to health care providers and first responders.
If you are interested in making a donation, nominating a team of health care professionals to receive meals or for more information visit DelawareDeliversforHeroes.com
April 15, 11 a.m.
The YMCA of Delaware is distributing food at multiple sites throughout the state. Community members will be able to pick up boxes of pre-packaged non-refrigerated/non-perishable food staples. This is open to the community and registration is not required. Quantities are limited. Food will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Distribution will be from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., or until supplies are depleted on the dates listed below.
- Brandywine YMCA – Wednesday, April 15
- Western YMCA – Wednesday, April 15
- Bear- Glasgow YMCA – Thursday, April 16
- Central YMCA – Thursday, April 16
- Dover YMCA – Tuesday, April 21
- Sussex YMCA – Tuesday, April 21
- Middletown YMCA – Thursday, April 23
Backpack Program
This Friday, at the locations listed above, the YMCA will distribute weekend meals for children in need through the Food Bank of Delaware Backpack Program. Meals will include nutritious food such as shelf-stable milk and juice, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, beef stew, granola bars, apple sauce, cereal and more. The meals can be picked up on Friday, April 17, from 8 to 10 a.m.
April 15, 9:30 a.m.
Paycheck Protection Program to provide area businesses with cash
Through the CARES Act’s $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, the SBA and Treasury Department are infusing capital into small businesses in Delaware to sustain businesses and protect jobs. As ofApril 13, in Delaware 1,974 Paycheck Protection loans were approved totaling $590,422,870.
“On many levels, the Delaware small business community is a tight-knit one,” said John Fleming, SBA Delaware Director, in a statement. “For generations, Delawareans have taken pride in personal relationships with neighbors and friends who head the start-ups and long-standing mom-and-pops that make the First State home.”
The Paycheck Protection Program provides small business job retention loans to provide eight weeks of payroll and certain overhead to keep workers employed. SBA forgives the portion of Paycheck Protection loan proceeds used to cover the first eight weeks of payroll costs, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest. Loan payments may be deferred for one year. Paycheck Protection program loans are available retroactive from Feb. 15, 2020, so employers can rehire their recently laid-off employees through June 30, 2020.
Visit SBA.gov/Coronavirus for more information on the Paycheck Protection Program.
April 15, 9 a.m.
Governor Carney implements stricter guidelines at long-term care facilities
Gov. Carney issued the eleventh modification to his State of Emergency order that has been in effect since March 12th. ,
The modified order requiring facilities to immediately ensure they are in full compliance with the Public Health Authority guidance related to COVID-19.
Nursing facilities must check DPH guidance at least daily to ensure they are complying with the most current guidance and adjust their policies, procedures, and protocols accordingly.
Additionally, all long-term care facilities Delaware must immediately:
- Establish a cohort of staff who are assigned to care for known or suspected COVID-19 residents.
- Designate a room, unit, or floor of the nursing facility as a separate observation area where newly-admitted and re-admitted residents are kept for 14 days on, while being observed every shift for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
- Designate a room, unit, or floor of the nursing facility to care for residents with known or suspected COVID-19.
The State of Emergency declaration – including the stay-at-home order and 14-day quarantine for out-of-state travelers – remain in effect and carry the full force and effect of law. Violations of an emergency declaration are a criminal offense.
Delawareans with questions about COVID-19, related to medical or social service needs, should call 2-1-1; or 7-1-1 for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends. Questions may also 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, visit: de.gov/coronavirus.
April 14, 8 p.m.
Beebe Healthcare is now able to run COVID-19 test at in-house lab
Beebe Healthcare is now able to run a limited number of tests to confirm coronavirus cases at the on-campus laboratory. In limited instances, a patient can be tested for the virus, and receive results in hours rather than days.
However, the supply of test materials are limited, and the hospital will continue to utilize other labs.
Please do not go to the Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus to receive a coronavirus test, and only use the ER if you are having a true emergency.
“Although the test kits are in short supply, I am happy to report we are able to obtain novel coronavirus confirmation test results in a few hours rather than multiple days in some cases. We will continue to send specimen to other labs as our allotted supply cannot meet the demand, but it is progress,” said Dr. David Tam, President and CEO of Beebe Healthcare, in a statement.
For more information about Beebe Healthcare, go to www.beebehealthcare.org. To find out how Beebe Healthcare is Creating the Next Generation of Care for the community, go to www.nextgenerationofcare.org.
