Cape Gazette keeps watch as pandemic spreads

We’ve had a lot to learn in the Cape Region in the last few weeks.

Even the youngest among us have had to learn what social distancing is, and we’re all slowly getting the hang of it. In many households, we’re learning to work from home alongside aging parents and our children, who themselves are learning to learn at home.  We’re worshiping not in church, but online and in our vehicles, giving the word “Zoom” new meaning for many.

Amid all this, work continues with new restrictions – in hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies and many other businesses deemed essential, including the Cape Gazette.

Town, state and county governments also continue to provide services and conduct business.

Sussex County Council recently suspended a new accommodations tax on room rentals in county hotels and motels, where occupancy is already far below last year’s rate – and many rooms are now being used to house hospital and other essential workers who don’t want to go home for fear of infecting their families with the coronavirus.

With local workers left unemployed by the restrictions, council also released up to $250,000 to assist people who rent with up to $1,500. At the same time, county staff has also processed more than 1,500 documents related to construction and land use since March 19 – the Recorder of Deeds Office alone received more than 1,400 electronic filings since restrictions began.

While Rehoboth has canceled April meetings, the City of Lewes, meeting virtually, has adopted its budget. Milton has sworn in new councilmembers and is reviewing major developments. 

Decisions continue to be made.

As the pandemic forces government to go virtual, the Cape Gazette will continue to use our pages and our website to keep our readers informed on the coronavirus, resulting restrictions and the ways our region survives and fights back – without ever losing sight of new and updated projects that continue to move forward – and that may affect all of us long after the pandemic has subsided.