A WGMD Local News Article
EXCLUSIVE | Delaware man shares experience suffering from coronavirus
The past week has been an incredibly difficult and painful time for a New Castle County man who WGMD can confirm has tested positive for coronavirus and fears he could die if his symptoms continue to intensify. What first appeared to be the symptoms of perhaps a common cold progressed rapidly for Sean Kristopher, 30,…
Read MoreDover Air Force Base printing 3D face shields to fight the spread of coronavirus
As the country and the State of Delaware continue to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Dover Air Force Base is taking steps to mitigate the spread of the virus by producing 3D printed face shields. As experts search for vaccines and other alleviating methods, Airmen at Dover AFB have utilized available resources to provide another…
Read MoreCoronavirus Takes 4 More Lives in Delaware
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing four additional fatalities related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is providing an update on the number of positive cases and recovered individuals. In total, 23 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranged in age from 57 to 94 years old.   …
Read MoreDOC announces additional cases of coronavirus among inmates
The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) is announcing that three additional Correctional Officers tested positive today for coronavirus (COVID-19). The latest cases bring the total number to 9 Correctional Officers who have tested positive for the virus. A Correctional Officer who is assigned to Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in New Castle. The Officer was last at the facility 9 days ago, on Tuesday, March 31. After…
Read MoreFire destroys mobile home in Delmar
A fire tore through a mobile home early Thursday morning in Delmar, Delaware. According to the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office, the blaze broke out shortly before 7 a.m., in the 9000 block of Parker Road. The Laurel Fire Department arrived on the scene and found smoke and flames coming from the structure. Several other…
Read MoreWorcester County President holds State of the County Address, highlighting response to coronavirus
Worcester County Council President Joe Mitrecic held a State of the County Address on Wednesday where he discussed actions being taken by the County Commissioners in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis locally. Worcester County, like the rest of the country, faces a situation never before encountered, and the Commissioners are calling on residents and…
Read MoreDNREC limits the number of visitors to state parks over coronavirus
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has announced that steps are being taken to limit the numbers of visitors within state parks and wildlife areas, following crowding and public health concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Starting Friday, April 10, administrators of parks and wildlife areas recommended to DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin that…
Read MoreEXCLUSIVE | Delaware pawn shops in disarray after being forced to close over coronavirus
Pawn shops across Delaware are in disarray and in search of answers after they were ordered to cease all operations in the latest round of business closures as part of the State of Emergency Declaration in response to the coronavirus (COVID) pandemic. Earlier this week, Governor John Carney banned all short-term rental units and ordered…
Read MoreDewey Beach to send off Mayor TJ Redefer in final ride through the town on Saturday
With the inability to hold a proper funeral at this time for Dewey Beach Mayor TJ Redefer, the family has asked that those who live in town help send-off TJ, while maintaining social distancing, this coming Saturday, April 11, 2020. The request is for folks who are in town already to walk outside to the…
Read MoreDelaware Public Health Officials Recommend Wearing Cloth Face Covering in Public Settings
Consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC), the Division of Public Health (DPH) recommended on Wednesday that Delawareans should wear cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Those settings include grocery stores and pharmacies. Wednesday’s guidance from DPH is for the use of cloth…
Read MoreMaryland to receive over $15 million in federal funding for health centers amid coronavirus crisis
Over $15 million in federal funding will be designated to community health centers statewide in Maryland in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin…
Read MoreGeorgetown rolls out red lighting to honor healthcare workers in COVID-19 fight
The Circle in Georgetown is joining the Empire State Building and other landmarks, businesses, and homes around the world to honor healthcare workers fighting to save lives amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Town, along with other government buildings and businesses located on The Circle, will be awash in red lights each night for the foreseeable…
Read MoreMd. Congressman Andy Harris announces federal grant funding for healthcare centers in response to coronavirus
Maryland Congressman Andy Harris has announced that over $3 million in federal grants will be used to assist healthcare centers on the Eastern Shore in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The funding in total is $3,123,465 and was provided by the recently enacted CARES Act, also known as the “Phase III” Congressional emergency legislation. Three health…
Read MoreBlood Bank of Delmarva collecting plasma from recovered patients to treat coronavirus
Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD) will be joining other blood centers across the country to collect plasma donations from people who have recovered from coronavirus (COVID-19) to treat other patients with advanced infections. In the treatment, known as convalescent plasma, the patient is transfused with the donor’s plasma with the goal of using the donor’s…
Read MorePlans underway on mobile hospital to treat coronavirus in Kent, Sussex Counties
Efforts are underway to set up a mobile hospital unit for Kent and Sussex Counties to treat those suffering from coronavirus (COVID-19) as cases continues to rise rapidly across Delaware. The Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the State Health Operations Center announced preliminary plans on Tuesday to launch an alternate care site to support hospitals…
Read MoreCoronavirus cases continue to rise rapidly in Delaware, approaching 1,000
Coronavirus cases continue to climb in Delaware with the latest number rapidly approaching a thousand, representing the largest spike of confirmed cases in a single day thus far in the First State. There are currently 928 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Delaware, the Division of Public Health (DPH) announced Tuesday evening. A total of…
Read MoreDewey Beach Mayor TJ Redefer has passed away
Dewey Beach Mayor TJ Redefer, 58, has passed away following a prolonged fight with pancreatic cancer. WGMD News learned from sources close to the family that Mayor Redefer had passed away Tuesday afternoon following a fierce fight with pancreatic cancer. Mayor Redefer was elected commissioner in Dewey Beach in 2017, at which time his colleagues…
Read MoreRehoboth PD Monitoring Out-of-State Travelers in City Limits
In response to concerns of many local residents over the influx of out-of-state travelers into the Rehoboth Beach and other coastal resort communities, the Rehoboth Beach Police Department began an initiative on April 3rd, 2020 to closely monitor out-of-state travelers within city limits. The main goal of this on-going initiative is to take action to monitor, inform,…
Read MoreUPDATED: Fire that engulfs Dutch Inn Restaurant in Laurel Under Investigation
UPDATED 11am: The Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating a structure fire that damaged the Laurel Dutch Inn restaurant in Laurel, Delaware on April 6, 2020. The fire, reported shortly after 10:00 P.M. , occurred to the structure in the 1000 block of SouthCentral Avenue. The Laurel Fire Department arrived on the…
Read MoreSussex County to suspend hotel tax, provide rental assistance to residents
Sussex County will suspend its hotel tax and provide rental assistance to residents as part of economic relief measures passed by council to deal with the ongoing toll of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. County Council, during a teleconference of its regular weekly meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, approved various measures as part of the…
Read MoreDelaware Attorney General urges adherence to State of Emergency Declaration
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings is urging Delawareans to heed Governor Carney’s State of Emergency after several people were cited for violating the order and one was arrested.  “This is a tremendously difficult time for everyone, and the only path forward is for all of us to take this seriously as a community,” said Jennings.…
Read MoreTown of Berlin announces further closures, cancellations due to coronavirus
The Town of Berlin continues to actively monitor the evolving situation regarding COVID-19, announcing additional closures to fight the spread of the coronavirus. All town services continue to be provided; however, town employees are working on a modified work schedule to minimize the number of people working at town offices or utility departments. Employees are working…
Read MoreMonday Coronavirus Update – 110 New Positive Cases, 1 Death
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing one additional fatality related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and is providing an update on the number of positive cases. In total, 15 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19. The most recent death involves an 84-year-old male from Kent County who had underlying health conditions. Individuals…
Read MoreGov. Carney Bans All Short-Term Rental Units Until Coronavirus Threat is Eliminated
Governor John Carney on Monday issued the tenth modification to his State of Emergency declaration, banning all short-term rental units – including vacation home rentals, hotels, motels, and condo rentals – to help fight the spread of COVID-19. Commercial lodging in Delaware will remain closed through May 15, or until the public health threat is…
Read MoreTwo More Correctional Officers Test Positive for Coronavirus – at Vaughn & Young
The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) announced today that two additional Correctional Officers have tested positive for COVID-19. – One Officer, who is assigned to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC), was last on duty on Thursday, April 2, 2020, where the Officer completed a work shift supervising an inmate at an area hospital. After beginning to experience flu-like symptoms,…
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