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WASHINGTON After numerous fits and starts and months of inaction, optimism is finally building in Washington for a COVID-19 aid bill that would offer relief for businesses, the unemployed, schools, and health care providers, among others struggling as caseloads are spiking.
Under pressure from moderates in both parties, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have initiated late-game negotiations in hopes of combining a relief package of, in all likelihood, less than $1 trillion with a separate $1.4 trillion governmentwide omnibus spending bill. The duo were the architects of the $1.8 trillion CARES Act, the landmark relief bill passed in March.
Success is not certain and considerable differences remain over items such as aid to states and local governments, liability protections for businesses and universities reopening during the pandemic, and whether to issue a second round of $1,200 direct payments to most Americans.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, of Calif., speaks during her weekly briefing, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
But renewing soon-to-expire jobless benefits, providing a second round of paycheck protection subsidies, and funding to distribute vaccines are sure bets to be included in any deal.
Here are the top issues for the end-stage COVID-19 relief talks.
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The CARES Act created a $600 per-week bonus COVID-19 unemployment benefit that sustained household incomes and consumer demand during the springtime shutdowns. It expired at the end of July and Republicans are against its renewal. The CARES Act also allowed for additional weeks of emergency pandemic unemployment payments at regular benefit levels which are themselves about to expire, on Dec. 31. Any deal is sure to extend the emergency benefits, and a bipartisan compromise framework thats helping guide the talks calls for restoring half of the bonus benefit, or $300 per week more.
NOVEMBER JOBS REPORT PROVES MORE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF IS NEEDED, DEM LEADERS ARGUE
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Another sure thing is a reauthorization of the Paycheck Protection Program, also established by the CARES Act, to give a second round of subsidies to businesses struggling through the pandemic and make other changes to the program, which enjoys bipartisan support but is particularly revered by Republicans. Leftover PPP funds from two springtime infusions into the program would cover almost half of the $300 billion or so cost.
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President Trump has long supported another $1,200 round of direct payments to most Americans, subject to income limits that make upper-bracket taxpayers ineligible. House Democrats support the idea, but it is unpopular with many Senate Republicans and was left out of a scaled-back Senate GOP plan. A bipartisan bill by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and others, leaves out the direct payments as well, and their up to $300 billion cost could render them too expensive for inclusion in the year-end package, though lawmakers ranging from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., are pushing to retain them.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks to reporters in Bangor, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
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This is one of the trickiest issues in the talks another round of aid to states and local governments to follow a $150 billion installment this spring. Its a top priority of Pelosi and other Democrats but is opposed by many Republicans, who warn it would bail out states run by Democrats like California and New York. Trump doesnt like the idea as well, but Pelosis demands for the money have been slashed from earlier amounts approaching $1 trillion. Revenue losses due to COVID-19 havent been as large as feared. But smaller localities left out of the first tranche of payments are eager for funding. A plan endorsed by moderates would provide $160 billion.
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Businesses reopening during the pandemic have for months been seeking a shield against lawsuits claiming negligence for COVID-19 outbreaks. McConnell is the most potent backer of the idea and hes drafted sweeping protections against lawsuits for businesses, universities, and other organizations. The powerful trial lawyers lobby which still holds great influence with Democrats is opposed, and McConnells fears of a wave of COVID-related lawsuits havent materialized. Veteran Senate Judiciary Committee members Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, have been deputized to negotiate the issue, a sign the talks are at a serious stage.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McMcConnell of Ky., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP)
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Numerous smaller items are ripe for inclusion, including $10 billion for the Postal Service, a $20 billion-plus deal adding food aid sought by Democrats and farm subsidies favored by Republicans, more than $100 billion in funding for schools seeking to reopen, along with funding for child care, Amtrak, transit systems, and health care providers.
The year 2020 began with a global pandemic that crippled the economy, upended daily routines, and saw heightened political and cultural tensions. But all this has made clear that, second to the coronavirus, Colorados economic recovery is the top of mind for voters across the state.
With the election behind us, we need political leaders to prioritize safe economic recovery and champion technological adaptation and innovation.
Fortunately, were starting from a strong position.
Long before COVID-19 forced us to change the way we do business, Colorado was charting a new course for the states economic future by embracing technology and cutting-edge digital tools. Our state has attracted a bigger footprint from tech leaders like Netflix, Google, IBM and Apple in recent years.
Companies such as Dish Network and Ping Identity are finding success as they meet technological needs. Homegrown tech startups have significantly grown their footprint. Meanwhile, small and medium-sized businesses across the state have been increasingly modernizing their operations with the help of digital technologies.
Considering the pioneering spirit of our state and our growing tech footprint, it should come as no surprise that when the pandemic hit this spring, Colorado businesses didnt shy away from using leading digital platforms to pivot their operation models.
READ:Colorado Sun opinion columnists.
According to a study by the Connected Commerce Council (3C), small businesses in our state were better prepared to handle a crisis like COVID-19 because of their early adoption of and investment in digital tools. The study also found businesses across Colorado had lower-than-national-average revenue reduction and a higher comfort level with using digital tools before the pandemic.
Technology has enabled resiliency in the Colorado small-business community. A key factor in Colorado businesses being able to shift and adapt quickly has been, without question, the access to and implementation of digital platforms.
Whether a business is using online platforms to connect with customers, process online orders, keep in touch with employees, or adhere to safety standards, businesses across our state have embraced digital tools.
Digital adaptation was crucial to ensure they had a fighting chance at surviving the economic challenges brought on by COVID-19. Heroic efforts from IT professionals ensured their organizations were able to produce business results while working efficiently and securely in remote locations.
In some cases, this agility has translated into additional revenue opportunities. Remote work is already looking to be a permanent fixture for many.
Its hard to think of a tougher business climate in recent memory than the one were facing now for specific industries and regions. And as much as wed like to see the pandemic in our rearview mirror, cases in our state continue to rise, which means we must all continue exercising caution and implementing safe operating practices.
Because of this, businesses will continue to rely on digital platforms to safely operate until the pandemic ends, and many will continue to use them long after it is over. This new reality will require policy makers to recognize how critical the role of technology will be in building back the state economy at all levels, from the small business community to the states economy at large.
Our organizations work closely to amplify the voice of business and advocate for smart policy that fosters and protects a thriving, innovative technology climate. It is essential that we have smart legislation that is streamlined, efficient and future-focused for our economy to thrive.
Debbie Brown is the president of Colorado Business Roundtable. Frannie Matthews is the president and CEO of the Colorado Technology Association.
The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Suns opinion policy and submit columns, suggested writers and more to opinion@coloradosun.com.
Support local journalism around the state.Become a member of The Colorado Sun today!
COVID-19 milestones come and go regularly these days, and it seems like the public has become numbed by the numbers.
Last week, San Diego County recorded its 1,000th coronavirus death and while it wasnt met with a shrug, it was received with the grim acknowledgment of something bad that was expected.
The ubiquitous human stories have helped put faces on the tragedy, about people lost to the disease and how that affected family and friends who could only standby helplessly at a distance.
But every day, indoors and outside, people are seen throwing precautions to the wind, not wearing masks and gathering closely as if the coronavirus pandemic was happening somewhere else.
As each COVID-19 milestone passes, theres always hope the next one will be the one to shock everybody into acting responsibly.
This is probably wishful thinking, but theres a coming statistic that may cause even skeptics to pause and think.
By this time next week, we are going to be talking about 3,000 deaths a day, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a renowned cardiologist and professor at George Washington University, told CNN in a story published Thursday.
Thats 9/11 every single day.
Most people probably dont think about the pandemic in relation to the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, but maybe they should, given how that tragic event nearly two decades ago jarred the entire nation and changed the world.
This sounds tiresome, but it bears repeating: Simple measures can prevent further loss of life from COVID-19. Its dumbfounding, and more than a little maddening, that everybody doesnt want to take them even for their own self-preservation, if not to protect others.
We need to mask up. We need to social-distance, Reiner said. In some areas where it is really bad, we are going to need to shut down certain things, like bars and restaurants. We cant keep doing what we are doing now and expect a different result. That is insanity.
Now, lets pause here to reiterate that whatever shutdown actions officials take, they need to back them up with data. That hasnt always been the case in California and elsewhere. One glaring example: Gov. Gavin Newsoms latest order, among other things, would shut down childrens outdoor playgrounds even as he encourages other outdoor activity.
That kind of thing is frustrating to people in the vast majority who are trying to do the right thing even Newsom supporters.
But wearing masks and distancing are no-brainers, yet too many people are still acting like they have no brains.
Yes, very early on in the coronavirus pandemic, there were mixed messages about masks. But that was a lifetime ago, and the science has been clear for months.
The Centers for Disease Control late last week further expanded its guidelines, recommending universal mask use everywhere, including all indoor areas except in ones own home.
There have been several studies, and all but the rare outlier generally agree on variations of two themes: Wearing masks will safe lives and help the economy.
A recent one comes from the National University of Singapore, which concluded that if 70 percent of the people wore surgical masks, that could lead to the eradication of the pandemic, according to one of the authors of the study.
Even wearing less-effective cloth masks would slow the spread, the study said.
And for those who may prioritize dollars and cents over public health, go back and look at the report from Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs, released in late June, that estimated a national mask mandate could have helped the United States avoid a 5 percent drop in the gross domestic product.
President Donald Trump, who has downplayed the pandemic from the beginning, refused to go there despite evidence that masks are good for business.
For people who find wearing a mask to be inconvenient or a violation of their individual rights, well, get a grip. Dying or being unable to breathe without assistance of a machine is kind of a drag, too.
But heres the new thing: It really wouldnt be for that long.
Vaccines are just around the corner. Theres light at the end of the tunnel, but, as weve been warned, it will get worse before it gets better and much worse if people dont change.
While businesses, churches and others get sanctioned for violating rules, enforcement on individuals is still lacking, even though people are occasionally ticketed for not wearing masks. There are so many people not wearing masks when they should that it would be impossible to cite all of them.
So what?
Ramping up citations and making a big deal about it would send a message. It did during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, according to a story in August by John Wilkens of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
As more and more San Diegans were fined $5 (more than $80 today) for going without masks, fewer people were seen not wearing them.
It doesnt help that some of todays leaders, at all levels of government, are falling short in this time of crisis.
Trump has been out of the picture when it comes to dealing with the pandemic, lost in his alternative reality about the election. Even officials who have enacted strong enforcement, like Newsom, have undercut their efforts by violating their own rules.
And when a social media icon like Kim Kardashian takes a bunch of people to a private island for her birthday and documents it on the Internet is it any wonder that her followers might just chuck this distancing stuff and go party?
Lessons of history have not been learned, whether from the 1918 pandemic or just this summer.
After Newsoms early stay-at-home order helped slow the spread of COVID-19, restrictions were loosened. The number of cases jumped over the summer, leading to another crackdown. Restrictions were again relaxed and now were facing the COVID-19 version of a nuclear winter.
Experts warned of a surge during this time of year, but added that it didnt have to be so bad if everybody, well, behaved particularly over the holidays.
But cases are up, deaths are up and hospitals are filling up people being fed up isnt going to change that.
More shutdowns are returning. Its back to the flatten-the-curve future.
Except instead of warm and sunny, its cold and dark.
Tweet of the Week
Goes to John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz), author.
Trump walks into a Barr...
'It's a little early to be sure if we're going to have an additional surge upon the surge of cases due to Thanksgiving,' according to UB's Dr. Thomas Russo.
BUFFALO, N.Y. We were warned about a possible surge in cases after Thanksgiving, but is that what we're seeing now?
According to Dr. Thomas Russo, the chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo, we still haven't seen the full impact of Thanksgiving when it comes to potential COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
He explained that's due to the timing.
"After an event, we would expect to see an increase in new cases in one to two weeks, an increase in hospitalizations from two to three weeks, and an increase in bad outcomes from four to six weeks," Dr. Russo told 2 On Your Side on Saturday afternoon.
"So the data that we have post-Thanksgiving at this point is only eight days after the event so it's a little early to be sure if we're going to have an additional surge upon the surge of cases due to Thanksgiving."
While these latest cases coming in may be linked to the holiday, it's this next week that will be more telling.
However, already, a possible influx has health officials worried.
Earlier this week, Erie County reported 78 percent of its hospital beds were occupied.
"The continued increase in patient cases, COVID positive patients at our hospitals is a concern," Michael Hughes, a spokesperson with Kaleida Health, said in an interview with 2 On Your Side on Friday.
Local health and government officials are also reminding people to follow the public health measures in place and stay home if they're sick or experiencing any symptoms.
In a COVID-19 update on Friday, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, "We can reduce the number of deaths by reducing the spread of coronavirus. Wear a mask. Avoid small gatherings. Do your best to do that."
The rolling average COVID-19 test positivity rate in Will County stood at 17.6% as of early this month, according to the state's latest public health data.
Will County's average rolling test positivity rate hit a high of 20.2% on Nov. 16, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Since then, the rate has been about 17% for a little over a week.
The South Suburban Region, which includes Will and Kankakee counties, has seen its rolling average test positivity rate decrease to 16.8% as of Dec. 1. That's mostly because Kankakee County's rolling average test positivity rate has fallen to 13.8% as of Dec. 1.
Between Nov. 22 and 28, Will County saw 537 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people. That's down from the previous week's rate of 757 new cases per 100,000, although still well above the IDPH target rate of 50 per 100,000.
In total, more than 41,500 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Will County. More than 560 people have died from COVID-19 in the county, according to the Will County Health Department.
The entire state has been under Tier 3 resurgence mitigations to slow the spread of COVID-19 since Nov. 20. Public officials have said they're worried about another potential surge of new cases and hospitalizations after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Although the region's hospital intensive care unit capacity has fallen below 20% in recent weeks, a situation the IDPH director recently called "dire," it appears to have slightly improved over the past week.
Out of 162 adequately equipped and staffed hospital ICU beds in the South Suburban Region, 36 were available as of Thursday. The ventilator utilization in the region stood at about 45%.
The Will County Health Department offers regular COVID-19 testing opportunities at various locations around the county in Joliet, Romeoville, New Lenox and University Park every week to the public for free.
For information and resources related to COVID-19 in Will County, visit willcountyhealth.org.
Alaska records 933 new cases of COVID-19, while ICU capacity reduced to zero in part of the state KTOO
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens on Saturday said they were informed by the NFL that "at least four unique strains" of COVID-19 were found inside their facility during the team's outbreak.
"Three of the four were stopped and not spread within our organization," Ravens president Dick Cass said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the fourth was a highly-contagious strain and spread throughout our organization."
The outbreak in Baltimore was one of the biggest in professional sports.
At least one Ravens player tested positive for 10 straight days. Baltimore placed 23 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list during that span.
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"From the outset, we have taken the virus seriously, very seriously," Cass said. "... Despite our best efforts, the protocol is only as effective as our weakest link. With a dangerous virus like this, everyone must comply with the protocol to avoid infecting many. We now know that not everyone at the Ravens followed the protocol thoroughly."
The Ravens recently announced that a staff member had been disciplined. According to a source, the team's strength and conditioning coach was suspended for not always wearing a mask and contact-tracing device in the facility.
The outbreak forced the recent Ravens-Steelers game to be postponed three times.
The Ravens, who have had four straight days without a positive test, reduced their reserve/COVID-19 list to 10 players on Saturday.
"We cannot undo what has occurred," Cass said. "But, we can do our best to learn from what has happened and be vigilant moving forward to ensure that it does not happen again. As the recent experience has shown us, this virus does not need a large opening to spread within an organization, and 99% compliance is not a passing grade when dealing with this virus."
The Ohio Department of Healths website began displaying a disclaimer that data is incomplete because due to unprecedented volume, thousands of reports are pending review. Daily records kept getting smashed.
On Nov. 12, more than 7,000 cases were reported; then over 8,000 on Nov. 13. On Nov. 23, it was nearly 12,000 cases .
More than 7,000 people were in Ohio hospitals with COVID in November. That is a quarter of all hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in Ohio since the start of the pandemic.
Why is the spread happening?
Area public health officials said the virus was always expected to flare up in the winter months. Schools reopened in fall, many states rolled back restrictions, and infections began to spread as people resumed small gatherings.
Dan Suffoletto, spokesman for Public Health-Dayton & Montgomery Count, said there is a snowballing effect and more cases begets more cases.
Dr. Don Brannen, an epidemiologist at Greene County Public Health, said the spread is happening wherever social distancing and mask wearing is not being practiced adequately.
This includes gyms, on campus (usually out of class gatherings), sports, in home transmissions before tests results are known, and other areas, he said in an emailed statement. There appears to be a very small rate of transmission where social distancing and mask wearing was in place and other protecting measures were used (including use of separate bathrooms for those with positive tests isolating at home, etc.).
Public health officials said anecdotal evidence from contact tracing cases tells them the spread is often happening among friends and family members. Suffoletto said they saw a bump in cases after Halloween.
The effects of Thanksgiving remain to be seen. People who were exposed last week are being diagnosed this week and if they need hospitalization will start showing up there in one to two weeks.
Kyle Trout, a spokesman for the Clark County Combined Health District, said uncontrollable community spread continues to lead to outbreaks in nursing homes.
Hospitals are not overwhelmed... yet
Active coronavirus hospitalizations in Ohio more than tripled during November, passing the 5,000 mark. About one in four patients in Ohio hospitals are now COVID-19 positive, according to the Ohio Hospital Association.
John Palmer, a spokesman for the Ohio Hospital Association, said the escalation of COVID-19 hospitalizations places more demand on health care workers and resources. Hospitals across the state are being forced to delay elective surgeries and procedures, including within the Premier Health hospital network according to a statement.
Ohios hospitals still have available capacity, including about 25% of total inpatient beds, 22% of Intensive Care Unit beds and 60% of ventilators, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Lisa Henderson, vice president of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, said in an emailed statement, the recent trends and rising numbers are certainly concerning, but (area hospitals) are working collectively, across hospitals and health systems, to support one another and our community.
Contact tracers cant keep up
The recent surge in cases means public health employees are overwhelmed. Most are having trouble notifying people in a timely manner who have come into close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.
Exponential growth in cases over the past several weeks has definitely created a huge backlog in contact tracing, Montgomery County Health Commissioner Jeff Cooper said in a prepared statement on Thursday.
Health departments have hired additional staff but they still cant keep up. Butler County General Health District is no longer reaching out to every cases contacts but sending instructions to individuals who test positive on how to do their own contact tracing.
Due to the large backlog, area health departments are asking anyone who receives a positive COVID-19 test result to reach out to people they may have exposed. All close contacts should quarantine for 14 days.
Suffoletto, spokesman for Public Health-Dayton & Montgomery County, said Wednesday evening there were over 1,000 county residents waiting to be contacted.
November set records in the Miami Valley
Who is getting sick?
Older Ohioans continue to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19, being hospitalized and dying at much higher rates. About 80% of Ohios COVID-deaths have been 70 years or older, according to Ohio Department of Health data.
However, no one is immune and about 590 people age 0 to 19 have been hospitalized in Ohio and four have died. About 1,180 Ohioans between 20 and 29 have been hospitalized and 13 individuals in that age range have died.
Where are the hotspots locally?
According to the Ohio Department of Health, the area zip codes with the highest rates of cases compared to population over the last 30 days include:
What can individuals do?
Health officials said Ohioans should not despair but say this outbreak should be a call to action. They are asking Ohioans to re-double their efforts around the basic prevention steps that have been advocated all year:
Laurie Fox, spokeswoman for Greene County Public Health, said they are also urging residents to avoid holiday gatherings - as hard as that will be for many.
We understand these are very difficult and painful decisions to make, particularly given the time of year with the forthcoming holidays, she said. But these decisions we make now could potentially affect future celebrations with loved ones.
Statement from Governor Carney on COVID-19 HospitalizationsDate Posted: December 5, 2020
Winter Weather Awareness Week December 7-11Date Posted: December 4, 2020
Weekly COVID-19 Update Dec. 4, 2020: DPH Continues to Announce Rise in Cases, Hospitalizations, RecoveriesDate Posted: December 4, 2020
Following federal indictment, DOJ reminds public of sexual abuse hotlineDate Posted: December 4, 2020
Governor Carney, DPH, DEMA Announce Community COVID-19 Testing SitesDate Posted: December 4, 2020
Zwaanendael Museum Decorated For The HolidaysDate Posted: December 4, 2020
Flags to be lowered December 7 for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance DayDate Posted: December 4, 2020
Governor Carney Announces Stay-at-Home Advisory, Universal Indoor Mask OrderDate Posted: December 3, 2020
Message from Governor Carney on COVID-19Date Posted: December 3, 2020
DNREC Soliciting Grant Applications for Projects to Improve Water Quality in DelawareDate Posted: December 3, 2020
Four Virtual-Programs At State Museums In December 2020Date Posted: December 3, 2020
State Auditor Kathy McGuiness Releases Review of States COVID-19 Data DashboardDate Posted: December 2, 2020
Delaware Day 2020 Expanding the Delaware StoryDate Posted: December 2, 2020
DNRECs Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Extended Six MonthsDate Posted: December 2, 2020
Killens Pond State Park to Close to Public Saturday for Cross Country State MeetDate Posted: December 1, 2020
FY2022 Grant Applications for Arts & Community-Based Organizations and Schools Now OpenDate Posted: December 1, 2020
December 1, 2020: COVID-19 BriefingDate Posted: December 1, 2020
Plastic Carryout Bag Ban Effective on Jan. 1, 2021Date Posted: December 1, 2020
State Auditor Kathy McGuiness Unveils Delaware CARES Act Fund TrackerDate Posted: November 30, 2020
Delaware students thrive during in-person learningDate Posted: November 30, 2020
Numerous Delaware Hunting and Trapping Seasons Open in DecemberDate Posted: November 30, 2020
Governor Carney, DPH, DEMA Announce Community COVID-19 Testing SitesDate Posted: November 29, 2020
Director Schall Tests Positive for COVID-19Date Posted: November 28, 2020
Statement from Governor Carney on DEMA Directors Positive COVID-19 TestDate Posted: November 28, 2020
Weekly COVID-19 Update Nov. 27, 2020: New Daily Cases Remain High; Hospitalizations, Deaths Continue to IncreaseDate Posted: November 27, 2020
Delaware Families, Stakeholders Celebrate Adoption with Virtual EventDate Posted: November 25, 2020
Governor Carney Formally Extends State of EmergencyDate Posted: November 25, 2020
DNRECs Low-Digit Surf-Fishing Tag Auction Starts Black FridayDate Posted: November 25, 2020
DPH, DEMA Provide COVID-19 Testing UpdateDate Posted: November 24, 2020
AG Jennings Announces Multistate Data Breach Settlement With The Home DepotDate Posted: November 24, 2020
GovernorCarneyAnnounces $45 Million Higher Education Relief FundDate Posted: November 24, 2020
November 24, 2020: COVID-19 BriefingDate Posted: November 23, 2020
Poinsettia Sale to Run Nov. 23-Dec. 22 at Greenhouse on DHSS Herman Holloway CampusDate Posted: November 23, 2020
Two Additional Youth at Stevenson House Test Positive for COVID-19Date Posted: November 23, 2020
Delaware Farmers Encouraged To Participate In Environmental Deeds QuestionnaireDate Posted: November 23, 2020
DNRECs State Parks, Zoo Waive Entry Fees on Black FridayDate Posted: November 23, 2020
Delaware Emitira Beneficios de Emergencia para Novembre a los Hogares Elegibles de SNAP, TANF, y Asistencia GeneralDate Posted: November 23, 2020
Delaware Will Issue Emergency Benefits for November to Eligible SNAP, TANF, and General Assistance HouseholdsDate Posted: November 23, 2020
Governor Carney, DPH, DEMA Announce Community COVID-19 Testing SitesDate Posted: November 20, 2020
YRS Gives COVID Update, Temporarily Suspends VisitationDate Posted: November 20, 2020
Governor Carney Issues Third Revision to Omnibus COVID-19 Emergency OrderDate Posted: November 20, 2020
Weekly COVID-19 Update: November 20, 2020: Highest Single-Day Total of New Cases Reported, Hospitalizations IncreaseDate Posted: November 20, 2020
Christina senior secretary named Delawares first Educational Support Professional of the YearDate Posted: November 20, 2020
State Auditor Kathy McGuiness Releases Delaware Volunteer Fire Service Special ReportDate Posted: November 19, 2020
DSHAs Eviction Defense, COVID-19 Rental Assistance, and Homes for Grads Programs Win National AwardsDate Posted: November 19, 2020
DNREC Opens Brandywine Zoo Madagascar ExhibitDate Posted: November 19, 2020
Delawares First Mental Health Parity Examinations CompleteDate Posted: November 19, 2020
Regional Coalition of Northeast Governors: Colleges Will Be Encouraged to Provide Testing for StudentsDate Posted: November 18, 2020
Electronic Tax Filing Requirements for BusinessesDate Posted: November 18, 2020
Additional Direct Support Now Available to Small Businesses Applying for DE Relief GrantsDate Posted: November 18, 2020
Second Suspect Charged For Murder Of Madison SparrowDate Posted: November 17, 2020
Governor Carney Announces Additional COVID-19 RestrictionsDate Posted: November 17, 2020
November 17, 2020: COVID-19 BriefingDate Posted: November 17, 2020
Delaware Launches Free CyberStart America ChallengeDate Posted: November 17, 2020
20 District/Charter Educational Support Professionals of the Year honored, one to be named state winnerDate Posted: November 16, 2020
Delaware Finalist for International Insurance Domicile of the YearDate Posted: November 16, 2020
Delaware Division of Public Health Announces Data Breach IncidentDate Posted: November 15, 2020
Relief Funds Community Resiliency Fund Applications Due Nov. 15Date Posted: November 14, 2020
Governor Carney, DPH, DEMA Announce Community COVID-19 Testing SitesDate Posted: November 13, 2020
Weekly COVID-19 Update-Nov. 13, 2020: New Daily Cases Continue to Spike; Hospitalizations, Deaths Continue to IncreaseDate Posted: November 13, 2020
Unified Command For Oil Incident Along Delaware, Maryland Beaches Suspends Cleanup OperationsDate Posted: November 13, 2020
AG Jennings calls on Barr to reverse new policy that will erode the publics confidence in the 2020 electionDate Posted: November 13, 2020
Governor Carney, DPH Announce Testing Partnership with Nemours, Pediatric Care Providers across DelawareDate Posted: November 13, 2020
Secretary of State Bullock Sends Diwali Greetings and Well WishesDate Posted: November 13, 2020
Deadline Set For Applying To DE Relief Grant ProgramDate Posted: November 12, 2020
DNREC Issues Croda NOV for Air Quality Permit ViolationsDate Posted: November 12, 2020
Delaware Joins the ALL-IN Foster Adoption ChallengeDate Posted: November 12, 2020
Delaware Public Health Officials Confirm First Flu Case of the 2020-2021 SeasonDate Posted: November 12, 2020
DNREC to Break Ground on Killens Pond Elevated WalkwayDate Posted: November 12, 2020
Delaware Veterans Day 2020Date Posted: November 10, 2020
More Delaware Beaches are Cleared of Oily DebrisDate Posted: November 10, 2020
November 10, 2020: COVID-19 BriefingDate Posted: November 10, 2020
DNREC Natural Resources Police Collect Toys as Holiday Gifts for Delaware ChildrenDate Posted: November 10, 2020
Governor Carney, DPH, DEMA Announce Community COVID-19 Testing SitesDate Posted: November 9, 2020
Weekly COVID-19 Update Nov. 6, 2020: Delaware Sees Highest Single-Day Total of New Cases Since Height of PandemicDate Posted: November 6, 2020
Attorney General Jennings Secures Relief for Investors in Real Estate Joint VentureDate Posted: November 6, 2020
Reminder: FY 2022 Budget Hearings To Be Held Virtually Nov 9 20Date Posted: November 6, 2020
The Mezzanine Gallery to Exhibit Works on Paper by Kim KlabeDate Posted: November 6, 2020
Governor Carney Issues Second Revision to Omnibus COVID-19 OrderDate Posted: November 5, 2020
Governor Carney Announces Nominations to Key Administration PostsDate Posted: November 5, 2020
Some Southern Delaware, Maryland Beaches Cleared of Oily Debris, Tar BallsDate Posted: November 5, 2020
Del. Museums Sponsor Three Virtual-Programs During NovemberDate Posted: November 4, 2020
Delaware Emitir Beneficios de Emergencia Para Octubre a los Hogares Elegibles de SNAP, TANF, y Asistencia GeneralDate Posted: November 4, 2020
Statement from Attorney General Jennings on passing of Elaine and Wayne ManloveDate Posted: November 3, 2020
November 03, 2020: COVID-19 BriefingDate Posted: November 2, 2020
Child and Adult Care Food Program offers meal reimbursementDate Posted: November 2, 2020
Unified Command for Delaware Coastal Oil Spill Assesses Cleanup Effort and Smaller Remaining Tar Balls on BeachesDate Posted: November 2, 2020
Governor Carney, DPH, DEMA Announce Community COVID-19 Testing SitesDate Posted: November 1, 2020
Enrollment Open For Delawares Health Insurance MarketplaceDate Posted: November 1, 2020
URGENT: Get Your Ballot In!Date Posted: October 31, 2020
Weekly COVID-19 Update Oct. 30, 2020: New Daily Cases, Hospitalizations Remain Elevated; Deaths IncreaseDate Posted: October 30, 2020
DNREC Extends Public Comment Period 30 Days for Diamond State Port Corp.s Proposed Container PortDate Posted: October 30, 2020
Governor Carney Formally Extends State of EmergencyDate Posted: October 30, 2020
Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island Announce Coordination on COVID-19 Testing GuidanceDate Posted: October 30, 2020
Delaware to Issue Emergency Benefits for October to Eligible SNAP, TANF, and General Assistance HouseholdsDate Posted: October 30, 2020
Additional Delaware Hunting Seasons Open in NovemberDate Posted: October 30, 2020
Kent County added to Delawares spotted lanternfly quarantineDate Posted: October 29, 2020
Virtual Halloween Costume ContestDate Posted: October 29, 2020
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We have all heard varying arguments and approaches about how to handle the surge in COVID-19 infections; unfortunately for Alaskans, the discussion has turned into an us-versus-them situation. If you listen to the rhetoric, it appears our state faces a stark choice: either save the economy by returning to normal as soon as possible, or shut everything down until the COVID-19 case count drops to zero.
This is a false choice. In reality, we must meet in the middle to get through this particularly brutal phase of the pandemic.
Like all Alaskans, the members we represent are suffering from COVID-19 fatigue. On the health care side, our system is stressed.Every single day now, we have close to 150 Alaskans in the hospital with COVID-19.Our health care workers are exhausted, and staffing shortages are emerging around the state as caregivers get exposed to COVID-19 in their communities.Rural facilities are overwhelmed, and our elders continue to be isolated in long-term care facilities as the virus runs rampant throughout the state.Alaskas health care system cannot sustain this pressure.
On the business side, the situation is equally grim. Small businesses are struggling just to keep their doors open. Many have already closed or are on the brink of shutting down. Each new day of rising case counts brings increased uncertainty to the business community, and new mandates apply even more pressure to an already fragile economy. Thousands of Alaskans are out of work and unable to pay for basic needs like food and rent. Our economy is in serious trouble, and we need Alaskans to start working and spending money again.
Given the pressing needs of our health care system and our business community, how do we fix it? First and foremost, Alaskans must work together, not fight each other. There is one enemy in this story, and its the virus. We can fight the enemy together, or we can fall separately.
The good news is that light can be found at the end of the tunnel if we stand united. If the health care system fails, businesses will fail, and the economy will crash. We are linked together and equally invested in working toward the best outcome.
Alaskans already know what to do, and we implore everyone to take this seriously: Wear a mask in public. Avoid meeting or mixing with others outside of your household as much as you can. Stay at least six feet away from people as much as possible. Avoid crowds. Wash your hands frequently. Work from home if you can. Embrace curbside pickup. And now, more than ever, shop local.
The short-term goal is not to push COVID-19 infection rates down to zero, but to reduce the strain on our health care system, get our schools open, and allow businesses to operate safely and responsibly.
At this point, it is truly up to the people of Alaska to take matters into their own hands and make smaller, short-term sacrifices to turn the COVID-19 trend around. If we fail, it is a sad reality that more serious measures will likely be required, an outcome no one wants.
Join us in our quest to turn the page on the false narrative that our response to COVID-19 is an either/or situation. If we make a concerted effort now, we can avoid greater problems in the critical weeks and months ahead. We know Alaskans are up to the task.
Kati Capozzi is the President and CEO of the Alaska Chamber. The Chamber represents small and large businesses across the state with a mission to promote a healthy business environment in Alaska. Jared C. Kosin is the President and CEO of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association (ASHNA). ASHNA represents more than 65 hospitals, nursing homes and health care organizations from communities across Alaska that employ thousands of Alaskans.
