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COVID, flu, RSV case rise could mean holiday tripledemic

Betsy PriceHealth, Headlines

  As the number of cases of three winter respiratory viruses rise sharply in Delaware, state officials on Monday asked residents to take action to protect themselves and their families. Gov. John Carney compared the increasing numbers of COVID to rises at this time in 2020 and 2021, leading into the holidays. State health officials would like to avoid a …

a view of a house with Delaware Legislative Hall in the background

Legislative Hall to reopen to the public

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The leaders of the Delaware House of Representatives and Senate plan to open Legislative Hall to the public effective immediately, they said during a committee meeting Thursday. Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf and Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Dave Sokola plan to announce the building’s opening later Thursday or Friday.  “My intent is open to building up, get …

a sign on the side of a building

Delaware mask mandate to expire Friday, Feb. 11

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Health

Gov. Carney’s universal indoor mask mandate will expire Friday, Feb. 11/Getty Images Delaware’s universal indoor mask mandate will expire at 8 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 11. Gov. John Carney on Monday revised the State of Emergency order citing the sharp decrease in cases since the height of the omicron variant surge. While masks will no longer be required inside many …

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Delaware Restaurant Association issues dire plea for help

Charles MegginsonBusiness, Headlines

The organization that represents restaurants in Delaware said the industry is far from being out of the woods after two years of the COVID pandemic. The Delaware Restaurant Association’s 2022 ‘State of the Restaurant Industry’ report found that restaurants continue to struggle to keep their doors open amid a surge in coronavirus cases, inflation, a labor shortage, and supply chain …

a person sitting at a table using a laptop computer

General Assembly committee meetings to stay virtual

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware House and Senate committee meetings will be held virtually throughout the month of January. Delaware House and Senate leaders announced Friday that all legislative committees will meet virtually throughout the month of January when the General Assembly returns to session Tuesday, Jan. 11.  House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, and Senate President Dave Sokola, D-Newark, said the decision was made …

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Some patients being transferred to nursing homes will be COVID-positive

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Health

On average, one out of every four Delawareans who tests for COVID-19 is testing positive, Gov. John Carney said during his weekly briefing Tuesday afternoon.  That is, in part, a result of increased testing in the state — although Carney also blamed the surge on holiday gatherings and the highly contagious omicron variant.  Approximately half of the state’s cases are …

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State hit 3,381 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Health

  Delaware saw 3,381 new positive cases Wednesday after all the reports were in, the Delaware Division of Public Health said Friday. That broke the record for a daily total, which already had broken the most-new-cases record when only part of the testing was in and the state said it was 1,991. On Friday, Delaware said there were 2,162 new …

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Gov. Carney declares state of emergency over omicron wave

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Health

Delaware will be under a state of emergency effective Jan. 3, 2022. (Getty Images/Kameleon007) Gov. John Carney on Thursday declared a state of emergency to address the highly contagious COVID-19 omicron variant.  The state of emergency will take effect Jan. 3, 2022 and is not expected to have any immediate impact on businesses. He announced the declaration during a virtual …

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DNREC to close facilities, reduce hours due to omicron variant

Charles MegginsonCulture, Government, Headlines

Several activities and facilities will be closed or operate under reduced hours throughout January due to the COVID-19 omicron variant. (Pixabay/LifeOfPix) Citing a surge in coronavirus cases driven by the highly contagious omicron variant, DNREC has announced that it will close or reduce hours for several public activities and facilities. While state parks, nature and wildlife areas continue to be …

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Delaware breaks record for new daily COVID-19 cases

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Health

  Delaware set a new record for new daily cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, with 1,393 reported. The previous state record was 1,241 on Jan. 6. It was the second straight day of 1,000-plus cases, with 1,164 new cases reported Wednesday. The Delaware Division of Public Health took the opportunity to once again warn people not to host or attend …