DOVER — All Delaware Division of Public Health clinics that offer COVID-19 vaccinations will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Additionally, the clinics …
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DOVER — All Delaware Division of Public Health clinics that offer COVID-19 vaccinations will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Additionally, the clinics and Walgreens will close for COVID-19 testing starting Wednesday through Friday.
While DPH standing vaccination sites at the Blue Hen Corporate Center in Dover, Canby Park in Wilmington, Georgetown Plaza in Sussex County and University Plaza in Newark will be closed for vaccinations, the sites will be open for Curative COVID-19 testing on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other testing and vaccine sites may be open. A list of vaccine locations is available at de.gov/getmyvaccine while testing appointments can be scheduled at de.gov/gettested.
Delaware’s COVID-19 Call Center will be closed on Thursday and Friday, but will answer e-mails to DPHcall@delaware.gov beginning Friday. It will resume answering both e-mails and calls to 1-866-408-1899 on Monday, Nov. 29.
As the holiday season approaches, DPH encouraged vaccinations as the biggest action to take toward participating in a safe holiday gathering.
For the week of Nov. 8-14, the most recent available data, 71% of new COVID-19 hospitalizations and 73% of new cases were not fully vaccinated, according to information released by DPH. Over the same timeframe, 90% of the 10 COVID-19-related deaths to occur were also not fully vaccinated.
Aside from vaccinations, DPH said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has several tips for gathering safely over the holiday:
• Get tested for COVID-19 before celebrating with people from multiple households and different parts of the country.
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, or had close contact with someone who has it, stay home. Do not host or attend a gathering.
• Smaller gatherings are better than larger gatherings to enable you to social distance from those who are not vaccinated. Those who are unvaccinated should get tested prior to Thanksgiving to ensure they are negative for COVID-19.
• Wear a face mask. Unvaccinated family members, including children ages 2 years and older, should wear a mask in all indoor public settings. People with a weakened immune system, who are at increased risk for severe disease, should also mask up.
• Communicate COVID-19 ground rules to invited guests, including expectations around testing before or after gathering, vaccination or masking requirements.
• Gather outdoors when possible. Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces. Getting together for a holiday walk, flag football game, picnic, or virtual cocktails are fun alternatives to an indoor sit-down meal.
• Do not travel unnecessarily unless you and your companions are fully vaccinated. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated and must travel should follow CDC’s domestic travel or international travel recommendations at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.