State of Emergency back on starting Monday, Jan. 3

As the number of Delawareans hospitalized comes within 20 of the 2021 peak, Gov. John Carney announced Dec. 30 that he will impose another State of Emergency starting Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.

“Residents need to understand that the Omicron variant is very virulent and very contagious,” he said, although he was unsure whether the variant results in serious illness. “We need everyone to recognize that if you’re not wearing your mask in indoor, public places, you’re putting yourselves and others at risk.”

That means masking up in public, he said, and asking the business community to require masks in the workplace. Specifically, the order allows Carney to call up 100 National Guard members who are being trained to work as certified nursing assistants in hospitals.

Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Molly Magarik acknowledged that there may be immunity that is keeping symptoms mild or people asymptomatic.

This past January, Division of Public Health statistics showed a peak of 474 hospitalizations. For Dec. 30, the number of hospitalized was 454, but the big difference between the beginning and end of 2021 is the number of people vaccinated. However, Carney said, those being treated in the hospital for COVID-19 are still mostly unvaccinated.

“Bottom line is if you’re not vaccinated, get vaccinated,” he said.

Also on Dec. 30, Carney extended the public health emergency for another 30 days in order to continue the state’s COVID-19 testing program.