coronavirus

Local branches of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are working diligently to keep boys and girls engaged during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Delaware’s Presidential primary election is being delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. And Delaware’s Department of Elections is preparing for a surge in absentee ballots because the state is making it easier to vote that way.

It is difficult to grasp on just how much damage the coronavirus pandemic will ultimately to the economy nationwide and here in the First State, but we are starting to get an initial sense of the scope both in hard numbers – and anecdotally.

Delaware Public Media contributor Jon Hurdle spent the week talking with businesses and workers affected – and looking at the available data.

Schools in the First State remain closed until at least May 15th under Gov. John Carney’s emergency order.  That means at least a month and a half more of school trying to educate students remotely.

The challenge of doing that it’s a huge one.  Delaware Public Media contributor Larry Nagengast checked in this week with districts and schools around the state to see how they’re faring – and found approaches and preparedness vary.

The University of Delaware was the site of the first confirmed cases of the new coronavirus disease COVID-19 in Delaware.

The University responded by suspending classes, moving up, then extending spring break, closing its residence halls, and promising a move to online-only courses starting this Monday.

Delaware Public Media’s Sophia Schmidt talked with Sharon Pitt, vice president for information technologies and chief information officer at UD - and Lynn Okagaki, deputy provost for academic affairs - about how the school plans to make the transition.

With the economic impact of the coronavirus still unknown, Wilmington’s mayor is proposing close to $250 million for next year’s budget.  

The Senate passed a nearly two trillion dollar coronavirus relief bill that’s expected to quickly pass the House then get President Trump’s signature.

And Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons see many positives in it - including some for the First State.