Governor Carney Announces Statewide Contact Tracing Plan for COVID-19

MAY 12, 2020 — Governor John Carney today announced that the State of Delaware has entered into an agreement with a nonpartisan research institution (NORC at the University of Chicago) to build Delaware’s statewide COVID-19 contact tracing program.

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The contact tracing program builds on Delaware’s statewide plan to test up to 80,000 Delawareans monthly for COVID-19.  According to a statement issued by the governor’s office, “expanded testing and contact tracing efforts are key to reopening Delaware’s economy under guidance from the White House and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”

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NORC also has partnered with the State of Maryland.  Delaware and Maryland will share information to more effectively monitor COVID-19’s spread across state lines.

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Approximately 200 Delawareans will be hired as contact tracers and support staff.

Applications for contact tracers and other associated positions will be posted at de.gov/coronavirus in the coming weeks.

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“Contact tracing is a basic public health practice for containing an epidemiological event by talking with the person who is infected and reaching out to their contacts in order to decrease transmission,” said Division of Public Health (DPH) Director Dr. Karyl Rattay.

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One hundred volunteer Delaware National Guard personnel began training yesterday with the DPH to begin the initial phase of wide-scale contact tracing.

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Under Delaware’s program, Delawareans who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be called by a case investigator asking for information that includes a list of the person’s known contacts.  Contact tracers will then reach out to each of these contacts to help them safely quarantine; find alternate arrangements as necessary; and to help them get tested for COVID-19, if recommended.

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Delawareans who need extra support to safely self-quarantine — such as grocery delivery or alternative housing — will be referred to a network of local community health workers.  Healthy Communities Delaware will coordinate the community health worker effort, in partnership with community-based organizations.

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The Delaware Department of Technology and Information will work with NORC’s technology partner, Enovational, and the Delaware Health Information Network to build a technology platform that allows the Division of Public Health to efficiently share data with contact tracers.

State health officials today announced 12 additional deaths* related to COVID-19, bringing Delaware’s cumulative total to 237.

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The most recent deaths announced today ranged in age from 66 to 89.  All 12 of the individuals had underlying health conditions. Seven of the individuals were residents of long-term care facilities.

There are currently 276 people hospitalized due to complications from COVID-19, down from a peak of 337 recorded on April 27.  Sixty-three (63) of the hospitalized are critically ill.
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Of the 237 total deaths linked to COVID-19 in Delaware:

Since March 11, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has recorded 6,741 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of that total, 2,440 were in New Castle County, 1,060 were in Kent County, and 3,205 were in Sussex County. In 36 cases, the county of origin is unknown.

The DPH reports the death rate for COVID-19 in Delaware is currently 2.5 per 10,000 people.

Two-thousand, eight hundred two (2,802) Delawareans known to have had the virus have recovered (at least seven days without symptoms).
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To see more statistical information on Delaware’s COVID-19 cases go to: “My Healthy Community.”

For the latest information on the state’s COVID-19 response, go to: de.gov/coronavirus.

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