The City of Newark Parks and Recreation Department and the University of Delaware today canceled the long-running Newark Community Day on Sept. 19.
Cited was the issue of enforcing the recent UD directive requiring all people on university property to proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid-19 test.
The directive goes into effect on Friday, in time for the first University of Delaware home football game.
The event is held on The Green, just off Main Street in Newark. Community organizations offer information for students and residents at the event.
However, with multiple entry points, it would be impossible to ensure all attendees have met the requirements to participate in Community Day, a statement noted.
On and Wednesday, the University of Delaware reported a record two-day total of 241 cases of Covid-19 among students. That number is the equivalent of one-quarter of the daily case total in Delaware.
The University of Delaware was the topic of a Washington Post story (subscription) that reported faculty were told not to let students know if someone in the class had contracted the virus.
Instead, faculty were told to advise students to assume they have been in contact with students with the virus and get tested.
The Post story also noted that UD is running out of isolation space for students testing positive and would instead send them home.
The Post cited memos to students and faculty in its story.
The news came despite a reported vaccination rate of nearly 90% among students and on-campus staff.
The University of Delaware’s Covid-19 dashboard does not contain information on those testing positive vaccination status.
(Below are case numbers in recent days). Click here for the latest dashboard information.)
