Winter sports events barred from Dec. 14 to Jan. 11
Gov. John Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) on Thursday announced a new holiday stay-at-home advisory and a temporary ban on sporting events through Jan. 11.
The governor also advised schools to move to virtual learning from Dec. 14 to Jan. 11.
The state has seen relatively few cases of Covid-19 tied to schools but is also seeing a record number of positive tests that indicate stepped up community spread of the virus.
Carney and public health officials strongly advised all Delawareans to avoid gathering indoors with anyone outside your household from December 14 through January 11 to interrupt the “dangerous winter surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Delaware. The advisory does not apply to Delawareans in workplaces, and traveling to and from their places of work.”
The measure stops short of the stay at home orders last spring that essentially banned visitors from other states.
In addition to the Stay-at-Home advisory, Carney and DPH will institute a universal mask mandate statewide, requiring Delawareans to wear a cloth face-covering anytime they are indoors with anyone outside their immediate household.
Since April 28, Delawareans and visitors have been required to wear a cloth face-covering in public settings where social distancing is impossible. Any child two-years-old or younger should not wear a face-covering due to the risk of suffocation.
On Thursday, Carney recommended that Delaware schools pause in-person learning beginning December 14, the transition to virtual learning through January 8, and return to hybrid learning on January 11. This will allow schools to plan for the second half of the 2020-2021 school year, a release stated.
The recommendation does not apply to child care centers. Schools that do not face significant operational challenges may remain in hybrid learning, with a mix of remote and in-person instruction.
Winter sports competitions will be prohibited from December 14 – January 11, but practices may continue under strict Covid-19 masking and social distancing guidelines.
The Delaware Department of Education will be meeting with educators and their district leadership or charter representatives to discuss any concerns or questions they may have. Educators may also share their experiences and feedback by sending an email to Educator.Feedback@doe.k12.de.us.
Governor Carney will add the stay. at home advisory and universal mask mandate in a forthcoming revision to the emergency order.
“A vaccine is on the way but, make no mistake, we are facing the most difficult few months of this crisis,” said Carney. “I know we’re all tired of Covid-19 – but it’s not tired of us. We’re pleading with Delawareans to do the right thing. Wear a mask. It’s a simple sacrifice to protect others and make sure that Delaware’s children get an education. Do not gather with anyone outside your household. Wash or sanitize your hands frequently.
Carney continued, “We know that schools are structured and relatively safe environments. That’s thanks to the hard work of educators, students, and staff who have been following the science and keeping their communities healthy. But school leaders and educators face significant operational challenges as we see more community spread. If we pull together and follow the public health advice, we can get more children in classrooms and get through this difficult winter.”
