As Delaware thinks towards reopening the economy post COVID-19, Delaware Governor John Carney issued a statement Monday announcing his intention to join a regional task force that will study the matter.
“Recognizing that their states have one integrated regional economy, Delaware Governor John Carney, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo today announced the creation of a multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work. This announcement builds on the states’ ongoing regional approach to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.”, read the statement in part.
The group will be comprised of one health expert, one economic development expert and the respective Chief of Staff from each state, according to the statement. There was no mention of including Delaware business leaders, small business owners or employee representatives in the group.
Cognisant of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, the Governor urged Delawareans to stay home and aked out-of-staters to not visit Delaware. “At the same time, we need to look forward. We need a consistent approach for moving our states out of this crisis when that day comes,” said Carney. I’m grateful for the partnership of my fellow Governors in the region. They are all working around-the-clock to prevent surges in COVID-19 cases, protect hospital capacity for the most critically-ill patients, and save lives. We’ll get through this by working together.”
The council will create this framework using every tool available to accomplish the goal of easing social isolation without triggering renewed spread – including testing, contact tracing, treatment and social distancing – and will rely on the best available scientific, statistical, social and economic information to manage and evaluate those tools.