Carney announces stay-at-home order for Delaware, effective Tuesday

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Gov. John Carney ordered Delaware residents to stay at home and closed nonessential businesses in the state starting Tuesday at 8 a.m.

Delaware will join Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and several other states that have enacted harsher restrictions beginning this week in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus as positive test results cases of COVID-19 continue to surge nationwide.

Delaware health officials announced 11 additional cases Sunday afternoon — the most confirmed in a single day — bringing Delaware's tally to 56.

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Under Carney's stay-at-home order residents can leave their homes for medical care, to shop for groceries, to go to work if their employer is permitted to stay open and to exercise with proper social distancing.

Car dealerships, clothing stores, performing arts companies and schools are among the nonessential activities ordered to shut down by Carney. Restaurants will be allowed to continue carry-out and delivery business.

The order will remain in effect until May 15, "or until the public health threat is eliminated."

In a public address via livestream Sunday evening, Carney offered several reasons for the order. Chief among them: too many people didn't take previous restrictions and guidelines serious enough.

"I don't want Delaware to be the example of what not to do in response to this crisis," Carney said. "I understand that these restrictions will have real consequences for real people but the consequences of not imposing these restrictions are way too serious."

The source of exposure for many of Delaware's positive cases is unknown, which health officials have said indicates community spread.

Seven of the cases announced Sunday were in New Castle County and four were in Sussex County. There are now 39 cases in New Castle County, five cases in Kent County and 12 cases in Sussex County.

Six people are currently hospitalized and three are critically ill, officials said.

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Carney is concerned that hospitals in the state won't be able to handle a spike in cases. As more people become tested, with a new round of testing beginning Monday at undisclosed locations in all three Delaware counties, the number of positive results in Delaware will likely rise.

"We want to stem the rate of community spread," Carney said.

The governor also said Delaware was also motivated to action by neighboring states. Its restrictions are now more consistent with New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which have both closed nonessential businesses amid growing numbers in the northeast.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, there were more than 7,000 cases confirmed nationwide Sunday — the most confirmed in the U.S. in a single day. New York accounts about 40% of U.S. cases, while New Jersey saw a drastic surge in confirmed cases Sunday of roughly 600.

Twenty people have died from the virus in New Jersey, which has the fourth-most known cases behind New York, Washington and California.

Carney's order will likely spell more trouble for local Delaware businesses and their employees. The number of unemployment insurance claims filed in Delaware last week already reached a historic level, according to the Department of Labor.

Officials plan on announcing "the next steps" in regard to school closures at the beginning of the week. Schools are currently entering the second week of a two-week hiatus, though Carney previously said it will likely be longer.

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Delaware had taken several steps toward a wide-scale shut down at the end of last week.

All Delaware courts will close Monday until at least April 15. Limited staff will focus on handling emergency and essential matters and will operate the 24-hour Justice of the Peace Courts in each county. All others will work remotely.

The Delaware Department of Correction is restricting access to its facilities for volunteers older than 60 or those with underlying health conditions. The DOC has already suspended visitation and increased its sanitation measures, in addition to screening everyone who enters its facilities.

Carney closed the Delaware beaches Saturday after beach-goers filled the beach on an unseasonably warm afternoon the day prior. The governor called the crowds "disturbing."

Carney issued a similar order halting dining in at restaurants last week after Delawareans continued to crowd bars and restaurants.

Delaware employers with questions about the governor's order can email covid19faq@delaware.gov or call (302) 577-8477.

Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @holveck_brandon.