Gov. Carney announces Stay-at-Home advisory, additional restrictions as surge in COVID-19 cases continues

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health have announced a new Stay-at-Home advisory, strongly advising all Delawareans to avoid gathering indoors with anyone outside their household from December 14th through January 11th in order to interrupt the dangerous winter surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state.

We’re told the advisory does not apply to Delawareans in workplaces and traveling to and from their places of work.

In addition, Carney and DPH will institute a universal mask mandate statewide, requiring citizens to wear a cloth face covering any time they are indoors with anyone outside their immediate household. Any child 2-years-old or younger must not wear a face covering, due to the risk of suffocation.

Governor Carney has also recommended that Delaware schools pause in-person learning beginning December 14th, transition to virtual learning through January 8th, and return to hybrid learning on January 11th. This will allow schools to plan operationally for the second half of the school year.

Officials say this recommendation does not apply to childcare centers. Additionally, 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 14th through January 11th, but practices may continue under strict COVID-19 masking and social distancing guidelines.