Del. coronavirus recovery: Gov. Carney bristles as Delaware added to N.J., N.Y, Connecticut quarantine list

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As of Tuesday at 1 p.m. Delaware reported 12,414 coronavirus cases and 514 related deaths. There are 56 people hospitalized, 15 in critical condition.

Delawareans are now on the 14-day quarantine list for New Jersey, New York and Connecticut because its rate of coronavirus infection over the last week is more than 10 per 100,000 residents.

Delaware’s average is about 13, according to a WHYY analysis of the last week.

An agitated Gov. John Carney said during his weekly press briefing today that it’s unfair to be lumped in with Florida, Texas, Arizona and other states where cases have surged far beyond his state’s recent outbreak, which is centered in eastern Sussex County beach towns.

“We are on the borderline because we’re actively testing into an area where there’s an uptick,’’ Carney said.

“Some days we’re above it. Some days we’re below it. And my message is I don’t want to be in that category. That’s why it’s important for Delawreans to do what we can to make sure that we’re not. I don’t believe we belong in that category.”

Carney says he plans to speak soon with his gubernatorial counterparts in those states about the matter.

He also stressed that officials have addressed the spike of cases in the Rehoboth Beach/Dewey area by ramping up testing and by closing bars and other gathering areas in taverns, nightclubs and restaurants at and near the beaches.

Delaware State Univ. sets ‘new normal’ for fall reopening

Delaware State University students can return to class on August 25 as originally scheduled for a mix of in-person and virtual instruction, the Dover school announced today.

Dorms will operate at about 75 percent capacity and the university plans to implement regular coronavirus testing and employ physical distancing measures.

About 3,000 students, faculty and employees are expected to be on campus in any given week, officials said.

Provost Saundra DeLauder said students who attend classes in person “will be in classrooms set up for social distancing, with the class sizes limited.”

Added school president Tony Allen: “The key to safe university operations in the ‘new normal’ is robust testing, contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine. As the university develops toward a weekly COVID-19 testing capacity, we will have the unique ability to test our entire campus community throughout the semester.”

Faculty, staff, students, and all visitors will complete a daily health screening, and will be required to wear masks. The number of people in public areas will be monitored, hand sanitizer will be readily available nearly everywhere, and cleaning of public areas will occur more frequently than prior to the pandemic, officials said.