State officials announced Thursday that beginning on September 30, all state employees and staff in long-term care and other health care facilities will be required to provide proof of vaccination or to undergo regular testing to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 to vulnerable populations.
The requirement for LTC and health care facilities will be formalized by the end of this month and will cover the following entities regulated by the DHSS Division of Health Care Quality (DHCQ):
Long Term Care Facilities:
- Nursing homes
- Assisted-living facilities
- Intermediate-care facility for persons with developmental or intellectual disabilities
- Neighborhood homes
- Group homes for persons with serious and persistent mental illness
- Group homes for persons with HIV/AIDS
- Family care homes
- Rest residential facilities
- Intensive behavioral support and educational residences
Acute and Outpatient Providers:
- Adult day cares
- Free-standing birthing centers
- Free-standing emergency departments
- Free-standing surgical centers
- Home health agencies: aide only (non-skilled)
- Skilled home health agencies
- Hospitals (including psychiatric hospitals)
- Prescribed pediatric extended care centers
- Hospice
- Personal assistance service agencies
- Office-based surgery
Additional information will be provided to state employees by the Delaware Department of Human Resources.
As of Wednesday, 73.9% of Delaware adults, and 71.8% of those 12 and older, have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit de.gov/getmyvaccine to find a free COVID-19 vaccination provider near you.
