Moderna has designed an updated version of its COVID-19 vaccine to help it combat the South Africa coronavirus variant, the company announced Wednesday.
A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.
A diagnosis with coronavirus 229E, NL63, OC43, or HKU1 is not the same as a COVID-19 diagnosis. Patients with COVID-19 will be evaluated and cared for differently than patients with common coronavirus diagnosis.
To date, Delaware:
- Has activated the Division of Public Health’s State Health Operations Center to allow for enhanced response coordination;
- Maintains communication and outreach with federal, state and local partners;
- Is monitoring asymptomatic (not sick) individuals returning from Mainland China to ensure they do not develop symptoms;
- Provides symptom monitoring guidance for residents returning to Delaware from China, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Iran;
- Participates in frequent calls with health care systems, EMS and first responder agencies and other state agency partners;
- Provides information to health care professionals, businesses and educational settings;
- and Has reviewed and adapted current pandemic flu plans for COVID-19.
The Delaware Division of Public Health has a strong relationship with hospitals, EMS, and first responder agencies through its partnership with the state’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS). Staff have been holding regular calls with hospitals, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), DSHS and EMS agencies.
The DPH recommends everyday measures that people can take to prevent the spread of all infections, which would also slow the spread of coronavirus disease:
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hand. If you use a tissue, dispose of it right away.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, including the backs of your hands and under your nails.
- Clean surfaces at home, work or school that you use often.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Anyone 2 years old and up should wear a mask with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
Information from the Delaware Health and Social Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
An an analysis released Wednesday, the US Food and Drug Administration said the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has met the requirements for emergency use authorization -- another step toward the authorization of a third shot for the United States.
The Division of Public Health made its pitch to the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) Wednesday, justifying all the work they've done in the past year--and will continue to do in the coming year--to combat a global health crisis.
Delaware health officials remain focused on their priority for equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution and outlined ways of achieving that goal at Tuesday's weekly COVID-19 news conference.
State departments continue to plead their cases for budget increases before Delaware's Joint Finance Committee, and on Tuesday, the overarching state agency tasked with responding to a global pandemic laid out what's happened in the last year and where their efforts are currently focused.
Under a cold, punishing rainfall that would have likely postponed a race at Dover International Speedway, it was full speed ahead on Monday, February 22, 2021, for a mass COVID-19 vaccination center put on by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with the Delaware Eme…
The state's mass vaccination site at Dover International Speedway will be able to accommodate more second dose appointments for Delawareans.
"Whether you're diagnosed with COVID or cancer. It should not mean you have to leave your job or lose your paycheck," said Liz Richards, Executive Director of the Delaware Cares Coalition for Paid Leave.
Sixteen percent of Delawareans surveyed said they either "definitely won't" or "probably won't" get the COVID-19 vaccine while 70% percent will "definitely" get vaccinated, according to a new state survey.
Delaware did not receive any COVID-19 vaccine this week as a result of winter storms across the country creating shipping delays.
The Delaware State of Emergency has been extended another 30 days--a formality at this point--but the limit on indoor gatherings has been increased once more, Gov. John Carney announced Friday.
The state's response to vaccine equity issues raised by the Latin American Community Center (LACC) on WDEL isn't good enough, according to that organization's leader.
Six days of second dose vaccinations at Dover International Speedway solely for Delawareans who got their first dose at state DMVs or Salesianum School will now begin on Sunday, February 21, 2021, because of winter weather.
"It's not time to let your guard down. It's time to double down on COVID-19 mitigation efforts," said Governor John Carney Tuesday. "Wear your mask, doubled it up, be extra cautious. We want to get to a place where we've reduced the spread."
Delawareans who were vaccinated at mass clinics at the Dover, Delaware City, or Georgetown DMVs or Salesianum School in mid-to-late January can begin registering for an appointment to get their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday by clicking here any time after 11 a.m. on February 17, 2021.
A leader in the state's Hispanic and Latino communities is slamming the state for its approach to vaccine equity, saying there hasn't been any so far.
Business is booming at local flower shops ahead of Valentine's Day as employees work to primp and prime dozens of bouquets with those last-minute finishing touches that make them so special.
In just over three hours, 3,800 appointments for second shots were taken.
Seniors and eligible Delawareans in Phase 1a who received their first shot at the Dover DMV or Salesianum on or before January 18 can begin registering to receive their second shots at Delaware Tech campuses in all three counties.
The Delaware Department of Correction is seeking a $365.2 million budget for Fiscal Year 2022 while touting a prison population at "historic lows."
A group of 29 U.S. Senators is calling for a renewed focus on ensuring COVID-19 relief--particularly the initial $600 payments from the first round of CARES Act funding--is making its way into the hands of those who need it most: the homeless.
"[We] don't want to be left with our guard down," said Governor John Carney Tuesday as he talked about how Delaware continues to improve on the COVID-19 front, while new variants appear on US shores.
Second dose vaccines are becoming available to the thousands of Delawareans who were vaccinated at DMVs up and down the state in mid-January after many were left feeling fearful and anxious over a lack of vaccine supply and communication.
The Christina School District took part in a pilot program that utilized a cutting edge, automated, COVID-killing robot to cleanse its classrooms with blasts of light.
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is seeking nearly $393 million for its operating budget for the next fiscal year.
If you received unemployment benefits during the pandemic, you no longer need to report that as income on your state taxes, thanks to a bill signed into law by Gov. John Carney Monday.
U.S. Senator Chris Coons has introduced legislation which would earmark $130 billion to invest in America's public school infrastructure in light of the insufficiencies exposed by the pandemic.
Appointment slots for COVID-19 vaccinations are opening up and filling up fast at area Walgreens pharmacies.
South African health officials said Sunday they're pausing the country's rollout of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine after a study showed it offered reduced protection from the COVID-19 variant first identified there.
Officials with the Capital School District and the Capital Educators Association (CEA), are challenging complaints from educators and staff about how COVID-19 protocols are being handled at Dover High School (DHS) as reported by WDEL.
A year after the University of Delaware came under fire from state lawmakers for a lack of diversity and low in-state enrollment, President Dennis Assanis touted achievements in both areas even as the university stares down a $250 million deficit and declining enrollment amid rising costs du…
Governor John Carney ordered Thursday that health care providers and pharmacies must provide the COVID-19 vaccine for free and set a date for raising occupancy for indoor businesses and organizations to 50% capacity.
The Biden administration announced it will begin direct shipments of coronavirus vaccines to retail pharmacies next week, expanding points of access for Americans to receive shots as concerns about variants of the virus expand.
After brief technical difficulties at the start of the Joint Finance Committee hearings Tuesday, lawmakers took their first crack at Governor John Carney's budget proposal, questioning funding for police body cameras and a COVID-19 contingency fund.
President Joe Biden and a group of 10 Republican senators have very different ideas for the next coronavirus relief bill.
As Delaware prepares to receive more COVID-19 vaccine from the the federal government, the state is expanding its vaccination program to create a focus on underserved, minority communities, state officials announced Tuesday
No matter how excited you are about getting your vaccine, the Better Business Bureau is warning you: Avoid sharing photos of your COVID-19 vaccine cards.
President Joe Biden is open to some negotiation on his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, a senior administration official told CNN, but the $600 billion counterproposal announced by some Republican senators Sunday is "not going to scratch the itch."
State and county leaders joined with officials from Delaware State University (DSU) to cut the ribbon officially opening the school's new genomics lab on Friday, January 29, 2021, in Marshallton.
DelDOT is planning to steal a page from neighboring states as they strive to keep drivers better informed ahead of next month's beginning of a major I-95 rehabilitation project in Wilmington.
Two Christina School District middle schools were forced back into remote-only learning this week after suffering operational issues due to COVID-19 quarantines.
The Division of Public Health is vowing to administer second doses of vaccine within the extended CDC timeframe despite the state's shift in focus to getting more first doses in arms.
Governor John Carney will now have the opportunity to sign into law legislation that would remove unemployment benefits from taxable income, after the state Senate approved House Bill 65 Thursday.
Governor John Carney has proposed a $4.7 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2022, which includes a small raise for state employees and a COVID-19 contingency fund for the ongoing pandemic.
Six weeks after completing its transformation from a Sheraton to a homeless shelter, New Castle County and state officials continue to steadily increase the usage of their recently-purchased ex-hotel near New Castle.
To-go cocktails could be sticking around.
The first vehicle showed up around 6:30 a.m. at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington for a food distribution event that wasn't even supposed to begin for another four-and-a-half hours Wednesday.
Delaware is expecting an increase in its COVID vaccine allotment over the next three weeks.
President Joe Biden announced a series of measures on Tuesday aimed at ramping up coronavirus vaccine allocation and distribution, including the purchase of 200 million more vaccine doses and increased distribution to states by millions of doses next week.
No long lines. No hours long wait. No sitting in a vehicle backed up on a highway.
WDEL has learned a scheduled clinic at the Dover DMV solely for Phase 1a aimed at giving healthcare workers their second dose of vaccine was postponed Tuesday.