Gmail - COVID-19 Update: Expansion of Statewide Testing; Reopening Target Date; DPH Up
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Gmail - COVID-19 Update: Expansion of Statewide Testing; Reopening Target Date; DPH Up... https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=a8f46fd842&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:16... Rich Lombardo <[email protected]> COVID-19 Update: Expansion of Statewide Testing; Reopening Target Date; DPH Updates Figures 1 message Delaware House Democrats <[email protected]> Fri, May 8, 2020 at 3:02 PM Reply-To: [email protected] To: [email protected] A Message from the Delaware House Democratic Caucus During this Coronavirus outbreak the news changes rapidly. We have set up a comprehensive online portal for any links, news or resources relating to Delaware's Coronavirus response you might need - including state agencies, unemployment information, schools, businesses, and nonprofits. It will be updated daily to make sure it is accurate. 1 of 11 5/8/2020, 4:12 PM Gmail - COVID-19 Update: Expansion of Statewide Testing; Reopening Target Date; DPH Up... https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=a8f46fd842&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:16... Click the button below to visit this page. Comprehensive Coronavirus Links, News & Resources Read on below this message for additional updates. We are keeping you in our thoughts and hope that you and your family stay safe and healthy. Sincerely, The Delaware House Democratic Caucus Rep. Paul Baumbach, Rep. Andria Bennett, Rep. David Bentz, Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden, Rep. Gerald Brady, Rep. Bill Bush, Rep. William Carson, Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, Rep. Franklin Cooke, Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker, Rep. Krista Griffith, Rep. Debra Heffernan, Rep. Earl Jaques, Rep. Kendra Johnson, Rep. Quinn Johnson, Rep. John Kowalko, Rep. Valerie Longhurst, Rep. Sean Lynn, Rep. Sean Matthews, Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, Rep. Larry Mitchell, Rep. Ed Osienski, Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, Rep. Raymond Seigfried, Rep. John Viola, and Rep. Kim Williams. 2 of 11 5/8/2020, 4:12 PM Gmail - COVID-19 Update: Expansion of Statewide Testing; Reopening Target Date; DPH Up... https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=a8f46fd842&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:16... COVID-19 Testing Program to Expand 3 of 11 5/8/2020, 4:12 PM Gmail - COVID-19 Update: Expansion of Statewide Testing; Reopening Target Date; DPH Up... https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=a8f46fd842&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:16... Governor John Carney on Friday announced a significant expansion of Delaware’s statewide testing program for COVID-19 as Delaware moves toward Phase I of an economic reopening. The plan will be implemented in partnership with Delaware’s hospital systems, primary care physicians, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and community organizations statewide. The new testing program will allow the State of Delaware to conduct 80,000 tests monthly – more than four times the current level of testing statewide. Delaware’s plan is based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The State of Delaware has purchased 200,000 saliva-based tests from Curative, a Los Angeles-based testing company that has supplied COVID-19 tests to Los Angeles and Atlanta. The tests are scheduled to start arriving in Delaware today. The State of Delaware will prioritize testing under the new statewide program for: Any symptomatic individual. Anyone with known exposure to COVID-19. Vulnerable Delaware populations, including elderly Delawareans and members of low-income communities. Certain front-line essential workers 4 of 11 5/8/2020, 4:12 PM Gmail - COVID-19 Update: Expansion of Statewide Testing; Reopening Target Date; DPH Up... https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=a8f46fd842&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:16... Governor Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced on Tuesday the launch of a universal COVID-19 testing program for staff and residents in long-term care facilities statewide. Public health experts at DPH also will develop a list of front-line workers who will receive prioritized testing and will work with employers to develop employee testing programs. The Delaware Emergency Management Agency, led by Director A.J. Schall, will work with Delaware’s hospital systems and other health care partners to operationalize the testing framework and stabilize the supply chain. Under the new testing program announced on Friday, Delaware plans to supply partner organizations with testing supplies to more effectively reach Delawareans where they need and can easily access tests. Delaware’s list of partners includes primary care physicians, Federally Qualified Health Centers, pharmacies, and long-term care facilities. Delaware’s new testing strategy will be implemented alongside a robust contact tracing program to isolate infected individuals and their close contacts. Details of Delaware’s contact training program will be released early next week and will include details on hiring a dedicated workforce to help Delawareans who are positive with COVID-19 to safely self- isolate. Governor Carney Statement on Economic Reopening 5 of 11 5/8/2020, 4:12 PM Gmail - COVID-19 Update: Expansion of Statewide Testing; Reopening Target Date; DPH Up... https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=a8f46fd842&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:16... In coordination with public health experts at the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), Governor John Carney on Friday announced June 1 as the target date for Phase I of Delaware’s economic reopening. Governor Carney has extended Delaware’s State of Emergency declaration, including the stay-at-home order and its other modifications, through May 31. Details about Phase I of Delaware’s economic reopening will be released next week, but the general framework about Delaware's recovery effort can be found here. Entering Phase I is contingent on the State of Delaware’s ability to contain the COVID-19 hot spot in Sussex County, and continued positive trends in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide. The following is a statement released by Governor Carney: “All Delawareans – myself included – are ready to get our economy going again. But our response to COVID-19 has been driven by the science since Day 1 and will continue to be driven by the science. The good news is our numbers in New Castle and Kent counties continue to move in the right direction. That means Delawareans are doing their part. They’ve stayed at home and practiced social distancing. “This morning, we announced a significant statewide expansion of our COVID-19 testing program, in partnership with Delaware’s hospital systems, community health care centers, primary care physicians, and long-term care facilities. That’s good news for our efforts to reopen Delaware’s economy. Next week, we will announce a comprehensive contact tracing program, another key to reopening. “Over the next couple weeks, we will build on the interim steps we took today, allowing certain small businesses to safely operate curbside, or by appointment only. We have heard the voices of small business owners loud and clear, and expect to move forward with a rolling reopening of Delaware’s economy. We will not hesitate to allow additional businesses to open before June 1, if we can do so safely. 6 of 11 5/8/2020, 4:12 PM Gmail - COVID-19 Update: Expansion of Statewide Testing; Reopening Target Date; DPH Up... https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=a8f46fd842&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:16... “Ultimately, our ability to move into Phase I at the beginning of next month will depend on our ability to contain COVID-19 hot spots in Sussex County, especially along the Route 113 corridor. Because of the ongoing threat in Sussex County, we are not in a position yet to open Delaware’s beaches, or remove restrictions on short-term rentals and out-of-state travelers. We need everyone to really lean into the effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in southern Delaware. “Delawareans can’t let up. Even once we move into Phase 1 of reopening, we still need to maintain social distancing to avoid a dangerous rebound in COVID-19 cases. Wash your hands. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. Don’t gather in large groups. If we continue follow public health guidelines, we have a real shot of getting Delaware moving again starting June 1.” DPH Update: 172 Additional Positive Cases The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing 11 additional fatalities related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is providing an update on the number of positive cases and recovered individuals. All data reported through the daily updates are based on data received as of 6 p.m. the previous day. In total, 213 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranged in age from 26 to 103 years old. Of those who have died, 112 were females and 101 were males. A total of 91 individuals were from New Castle County, 36 were from Kent County, and 86 were from Sussex County. DPH will provide demographic information for COVID-19-related deaths in aggregate only, and will no longer provide demographics of each individual person who died. The most recent deaths announced today ranged in age from 55 to 99. Four were female and seven were male. Two were New Castle County residents, two were Kent County residents, and seven were Sussex County residents. Ten of the eleven individuals had underlying health conditions. Seven individuals were residents of long-term care facilities. To protect personal health information, DPH will not confirm specific information about any individual case, even if other persons or entities disclose it independently. 7 of 11 5/8/2020, 4:12 PM Gmail - COVID-19 Update: Expansion of Statewide Testing; Reopening Target Date; DPH Up..