COVID-19
Help During the Covid-19
Pandemic
The coronavirus has created some significant challenges for people across Delaware. Our team at Delaware 211 stands ready to help anyone in New Castle, Kent, or Sussex counties impacted by the pandemic. For information about Covid-19, see below, or visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or Delaware Department of Health & Human Services.
General Information
|How Does Coronavirus (COVID-19) Spread?
- Through the air by coughing and sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
Who Is at Risk?
- People with underlying medical conditions
- People who travel to and from certain areas of the world with travel advisories are at increased risk, as are their close contacts
- Current risk to the general public is low
- See travel guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/travel
Symptoms
For confirmed COVID–19 infections, reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms (similar to the common cold) to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
*If you have recently returned from travel to countries with current advisories and have developed symptoms such as the above, contact the Division of Public Health at 1-888-295-5156 to discuss your concerns and next steps. If you need to call 911, relay your recent travel history and symptoms to the 911 operator. CDC believes, at this time, that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS viruses. There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 infection. People infected with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.
Downloadable/Printable Materials
- Coronavirus Returning Traveler Guidance
Download: English | Spanish | Haitian Creole | Mandarin - Information About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Risk, Prevention, etc.)
Download: English | Spanish | Haitian Creole | Mandarin
Resources for medical providers
If you are a health professional evaluating a patient for suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) infection, please contact the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 1-888-295-5156.
DPH Monitoring of Returning Travelers From China (Medical Provider Guidance) 2.6.2020
CDC HAN for medical providers (DPH issued 2.28.2020)
SARS-CoV-2 is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak in Wuhan, China, reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread is occurring. At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading between people.
Those with recent travel to China, South Korea, Italy, or Iran or in contact with someone who has recent travel and is ill, have a greater risk of becoming ill. At this time, there are a small number of individual cases in the U.S. To minimize the risk of spread, Delaware health officials are working with health care providers to promptly identify and evaluate any suspected cases.
The latest situation summary updates are available on CDC’s web page 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Wuhan, China.
- Coronavirus disease 2019 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that has not been found in people before. SARS-CoV-2 is not the same coronavirus that caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS–CoV) in 2012. However, it is in the same family of viruses.
- Because this is a new virus, there are still things we do not know, such as how severe the illness can be, how well it is transmitted between people, and other features of the virus. More information will be provided when it is available.
More Information for Health Professionals
- CDC: Information For Healthcare Professionals
Interim guidance from CDC for health care professionals on human infections with 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID–19).
Testing
When should you get tested?
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19
- If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19
- If you are unvaccinated
Where can you get tested?
Visit the State of Delaware’s COVID-19 Testing Locator tool to find a testing location where you live.
Where can you learn more about testing?
To learn more about COVID-19 testing, visit the State of Delaware’s COVID-19 website or the Center for Disease and Control and Prevention’s COVID page.
Vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective against infection and serious illness
- Delaware providers are currently vaccinating Delawareans 5+
- COVID-19 vaccines are free
Where can you get the vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccines are available from hospital systems, pharmacies, some doctor’s offices, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Division of Public Health clinics or other state-coordinated events, and community-based events. The below information is intended to help you find a vaccine nearest you. Some sites require scheduling an appointment online or putting your name on a waiting list. Other sites offer walk-in hours. Read the below carefully for more information.
| Vaccines.gov |
| Public Health Clinics |
| Community Based Events |
| Pharmacies |
| Hospital or Medical Clinic Sites |
| Federally Qualified Health Center Sign-Up / Self-Scheduling |
Where can you learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine?
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the State of Delaware’s COVID-19 website or the Center for Disease and Control and Prevention’s COVID vaccine page.
Other COVID-19 Resources
I need help paying bills
Unemployment Benefits: If you were laid off or had to leave your job because of the pandemic, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance. Click here to review the State of Delaware’s Unemployment Insurance requirements and to apply.
Rent/Mortgage Assistance: If you can no longer make your rent or mortgage payments due to the pandemic, click here to learn more about evictions and rent protection in Delaware. Also, feel free to call, text, or chat with our team at Delaware 211 for immediate assistance.
Utilities: Local power, water, phone, and internet providers offer payment plans and other support for people impacted by COVID-19. If you cannot pay for utilities due to COVID-19, contact your utility providers to learn more about the support they currently offer. You can also learn about utility assistance here.
I need help buying food
The difficult circumstances brought on by the pandemic have left many individuals and families unable to afford food. If you’re facing food insecurity due to the pandemic, our team at Delaware 211 can help you get the food you need and deserve.
Call, text, or chat with our team today to learn more about food assistance resources available throughout the State of Delaware.
I need home internet but can't afford it
If you or a member of your household works or attends school virtually but cannot afford internet access at home, the following providers have low-cost internet options:
If you have an existing provider, they may be making special accommodations in response to the pandemic. Visit their website or contact them via phone for more information.
I need emotional support during this time
The pandemic has increased feelings of anxiety and stress for many people throughout the First State. If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional and/or mental health-related issues, we are here to help.
- For life-threatening mental health emergencies, please call 911 immediately
- JFS OnCall is a free, confidential emotional support hotline available to our community. Call (302) 781-4537, Monday-Friday, 9 am – 9 pm, if you need someone to talk to, express worries, and gain support. This is not a crisis response line.
Call, text, or chat with our team today to learn more about mental health resources available throughout the State of Delaware.
