Coronavirus (COVID-19)

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation changes, The Ministry of Caring is taking steps to reduce panic and misinformation, while maintaining its level of services. Whether you receive our services, are a volunteer, or are a member of staff, a trustee, or a donor or sponsor, we ask for your patience and cooperation as we adjust to changing circumstances.

The best defenses against the spread of COVID-19 are facts and common sense. 

For information on reducing the spread of COVID-19, click here.

For news about Governor Carney’s State of Emergency in Delaware, click here.

The advice from Centers for Disease Control (CDC) includes the following points:

1. Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity.

Fear and anxiety about COVID-19 can cause people to avoid or reject others even though they are not at risk for spreading the virus.

2. For most people, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low.

Older adults and people of any age with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, or heart disease, are at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

3. Someone who has completed quarantine or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people.

For up-to-date information, visit CDC’s coronavirus disease situation summary page.

4. There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Wash your hands.

5. You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

You are advised to seek medical advice if you or a family member develop symptoms.

If you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19, again, seek medical advice. Before you head to the doctor’s office or the ER, call ahead to tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms. Be prepared to give details of any other people with whom you have had close physical contact since your symptoms began.

More information from the De. Div. of Public Health:

The Delaware Division of Public Health has set up a Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-408-1899,
or TTY at 1-800-232-5460 that is available between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For email questions, please contact: DPHCall@delaware.gov.