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Delaware off multi-state quarantine list

July 14, 2020

The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce along with other area chambers announced July 14 that several states have taken Delaware off their quarantine lists.

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania have taken Delaware off a list that required visitors from certain other states to quarantine themselves for 14 days. Those states imposed the quarantine on Delaware visitors a week ago after the percentage of positive COVID-19 cases in Delaware exceeded 5 percent. The percentage dropped below 5 percent July 10, and has continued to drop.

“I would argue we didn't belong there, and I'm happy we're off,” said Gov. John Carney during a July 14 press conference. “But it ought to be motivation to stay off those lists.”

When Delaware was placed on the quarantine lists July 7, Carney questioned why Delaware was included, particularly since other states on the list had percentage positive rates in the double digits when Delaware has remained in the mid-single-digit range. Delaware, however, did not satisfy the 10 cases per 100,000 residents limit, which the state exceeded.

“The reason we were removed from the list is because our data met their criteria. My argument has been with respect to New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, that the two criteria they used ... really penalized Delaware for testing aggressively,” Carney said, referring to an outbreak among the beach communities in June which pushed up the number of positive COVID-19 cases.

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