A digital version of the signed declaration: Tenth Extension of the State of Emergency
TENTH 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, during the past several months, I have issued Twenty-Seven Modifications, including a First and Second Revision to the 27th Modification, to the State of Emergency declaration first to protect from the spread of COVID-19 by, 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, the State of Delaware continues to face a serious public health threat from COVID-19 and the risk to life remains; 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, 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, on May 8, 2020, on June 6, 2020, on July 6, 2020, on August 5, 2020 on September 3, 2020, on October 2, 2020, on October 30, 2020, and on November 25, 2020; 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:
APPROVED this 24th day of December 2020 at 12:00 p.m.
John C. Carney
Governor