SIXTEENTH EXTENSION OF THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE
STATE OF DELAWARE DUE TO A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT

WHEREAS, in connection with the serious public health threat from the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) that has impacted the State of Delaware, I issued a Declaration of a State of Emergency for the entire state at 3:00 p.m. on March 12, 2020; and

WHEREAS, I subsequently issued Twenty-Six Modifications to the State of Emergency declaration to protect from the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on September 4, 2020, I issued a Twenty-Seventh Modification to the State of Emergency which consolidated all prior Modifications into one Order; and

WHEREAS, on September 25, 2020 and November 5, 2020, respectively, I issued a First and Second Revision to the 27th Modification to, among others things, limiting social gatherings, closing places of public accommodation, restricting beach access, closing childcare to all but emergency child care, restricting business operations to essential businesses only with non-essential businesses either closed or remote working only, and ordering a shelter in place for all Delawareans, and then to begin to reopen the state by, among other things, requiring individuals to wear cloth face coverings both inside essential businesses and outside when social distancing is difficult, permitting businesses and other places of public accommodation to reopen slowly, reopening the beaches, lifting the quarantine and restrictions on commercial lodgings, establishing guidelines for reopening schools and participating in sports safely and taking other measures to reopen the economy while still focused on protecting the public health, safety and welfare of Delawareans during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the ongoing threat to the public health caused by COVID-19, on November 20, 2020 at 3:45 p.m., I entered the Third Revision to the 27th Modification to the State of Emergency to, among other things, require face coverings at all times while inside gyms, reduce occupancy in restaurants and other places of public and private accommodation, and restrict participation in out-of-state sports tournaments; and

WHEREAS, as a result of increased exposure to and hospitalizations caused by COVID-19, on December 10, 2020 at 5:00 p.m., I entered the Fourth Revision to the 27th Modification to the State of Emergency to, among other things, include a stay at home advisory to Delawareans until January 11, 2021 and further reduce occupancy in businesses as determined by square footage; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the ongoing increased exposure to and hospitalizations caused by COVID-19, on January 11, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., I entered the Fifth Revision to the 27th  Modification to the State of Emergency to extend the stay at home advisory, and permit food and drink establishments to remain open after 10:00 p.m.; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the gradual decline in hospitalizations in Delaware caused by COVID-19, on February 4, 2021 at 9:00 a.m., I entered the Sixth Revision to the 27th Modification to the State of Emergency to increase occupancy limits for certain businesses; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the continuing decline in hospitalizations in Delaware caused by COVID-19: on February 19, 2021 at 9:00 a.m., I entered the Seventh Revision to the 27th Modification; on March 29, 2021 at 1:00 p.m., I entered the Eighth Revision to the 27th Modification; on April 1, 2021 at 12:30 p.m., I entered the Ninth Revision to the 27th Modification; and on April 27^th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m., I entered the Tenth Revision to the 27^th Modification to further ease restrictions on businesses, including easing class size restrictions at exercise facilities, easing restrictions on indoor gatherings and youth and amateur sports, and ease certain requirements of food and drink establishments; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the ongoing threat to public health caused by COVID-19, and to ensure the efficient and effective communication of the suspension of certain regulatory and procedural rules and statutory provisions caused by the COVID-related public health threat to Delawareans, on May 12, 2021 I issued the 28^th Modification to the State of Emergency Declaration, to be effective on May 21, 2021, which consolidated all prior Modifications, including the First through Twenty-Seventh Modifications, and the First through Tenth Revisions to the Twenty-Seventh Modification; and

WHEREAS, given new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention related to protections afforded by the vaccine against the spread of the COVID-19 virus, I issued the 29^th Modification to the State of Emergency Declaration on May 18, 2021, which consolidated all prior Modifications, including the First through Twenty-Seventh Modifications, and the First through Tenth Revisions to the Twenty-Seventh Modification, and the 28^th Modification; and

WHEREAS, the State of Delaware continues to face a serious public health threat from COVID-19 and the risk to life remains; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Delaware’s emergency management statutes, a State of Emergency proclaimed by the Governor may not continue for more than 30 days without being renewed; and

WHEREAS, I extended the State of Emergency for an additional 30 days on April 10, 2020; May 8, 2020; June 6, 2020; July 6, 2020; August 5, 2020; September 3, 2020; October 2, 2020; October 30, 2020; November 25, 2020; December 24, 2020; January 23, 2021; February 19, 2021; March 19, 2021; April 16, 2021; and on May 14, 2021; and

WHEREAS, I find that the conditions necessitating a State of Emergency continue to exist and require that the State of Emergency remains in effect.

NOW THEREFORE, I, JOHN C. CARNEY, pursuant to Title 20, Chapter 31 of the Delaware Code, to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the State of Delaware, do hereby declare:

1. The State of Emergency due to COVID-19, first declared on March 12, 2020 and subsequently modified as set forth above is extended, effective immediately.
2. All provisions of the State of Emergency in the Twenty-Ninth Modification currently in place shall remain in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with state law..

APPROVED this 13^th day of June 2021 at 12:00 p.m.

John C. Carney
Governor

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