The University of Delaware released it’s “Fall 2022 Covid 19 Guidelines” which includes a masking requirement for the first two weeks of the semester. Information found on UD’s Campus Guidelines webpage states “The University will be requiring face masks to be worn in all classrooms, research laboratories, and all UD transportation for the first two weeks of the semester, from August 30 through September 9, 2022. The intent of this measure is to help reduce the transmission of COVID associated with the rapid density increase on campus, while preserving as much academic continuity as possible. Masks continue to be required in all healthcare and clinical spaces, as well as the childrens’ campus. Instructors and presenters may remove their masks during active instructrion or presenting if they are more than six feet away from others.”
Up to date vaccination requirements for students are still in effect, while UD faculty and staff are only “highly encouraged to do so, as well.” The University will host a COVID-19 vaccine/booster clinic Friday, Sept. 9, in Pencader Dining Hall. Students may request an exemption to these requirements through the UD Health Portal. According to the website, students who have an approved exemption from 2021-22 do not have to submit a new request for 2022-23.
The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a second COVID-19 booster shot of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine for people ages 50 and up, and have received the previous booster at least four months prior.
The move comes while a variant of the omicron strain continues to spread in Europe and is found in the United States. However, states are reporting far lower numbers of infected individuals when compared to the winter spike in December and January.
During that winter wave that was blamed on the omicron variant, the CDC reports that the two-dose vaccine was roughly 80% effective against hospitalization. The booster pushed that number to 94%.
Previously, the FDA recommended a fourth vaccine for people 12 and up with underlying health issues and a weakened immune system. The new recommendations extend the booster to millions more.
According to the CDC, who is expected to act on the latest recommendation, over two thirds of Americans are fully vaccinated. Half of those have neglected to get the first booster shot.
The Delaware Division of Public Health reports today that 94% of the population 18 and over are fully vaccinated. Only 67% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated.
Delaware Christian employees at Bayhealth had their religious exemptions denied and will face termination if they do not receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
TV Delmarva News spoke to over a dozen employees who agreed to interview on the condition that we protect their identities. Here are some of their stories:
“Why would you blanket no religious exemptions? Our religious letters, mine, was straight from the heart, it’s exactly what I believe,” one employee stressed. “I don’t see how you can be in the medical field and not believe in God, you see miracles all the time. How can you not believe in God?”
“To me, personally, being a Christian, I just feel like we should be able to say what goes into our bodies,” another employee stressed in an anonymous interview. “God created our bodies, so we can fight off infections.”
“We all have our own reasonings when it comes down to religion, and I even denied the flu vaccine for the past few years, and I would have to do is check a box, I had to have no reasoning at all,” another employee emphasized. “When they say that they’re denying it because I didn’t give a good theological reason, I did give a good theological reason and per my rights I shouldn’t have to spell it out, it’s between me and God.”
Another employee, who relocated a far distance across the country seven years ago to take their job at Bayhealth, emphasized how their religious exemption was also denied as a Christian.
“I currently serve in my church as a youth leader and teacher,” the employee said. “I take my faith very seriously, my faith is very authentic, I don’t just use it to gain things in this world, and I do hold my faith in higher regard than my career. I believe a career is important, but I’m not willing to give up my faith or jeopardize what I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Dr. Paul Isaacs, one of the chaplains at Bayhealth Sussex Campus, says he was forced to resign after his religious and medical exemptions were denied.
“This year after I got the flu shot, for the last three and a half months, I’ve had Bell’s Palsy, it’s doing better now but I still struggle with it, my eye won’t shut, I have to keep on protective glasses so I don’t get things in my eyes, I can’t eat right or shut my mouth right, and it’s a challenge,” Dr. Isaacs stated. “They forced me out in the sense that they told me if I don’t get the shot by Thursday I would be fired, so I resigned so I would not be fired. But I resigned under reluctance, and I shared in a letter my convictions about why I have difficulty accepting their decision.”
Dr. Isaacs stressed that both his medical and religious exemptions were denied and claimed the hospital even wanted him to not pray in the name of Jesus.
“I applied for the religious exemption and I was told that because my convictions are not based on my religion, and they never asked what my religion was, I argued from scripture about my faith and about my requirement to be faithful to the word of the Lord and the Lord himself and count on him protecting me, and I was told that’s not a valid religious exemption,” Dr. Isaacs stated. “For instance, I was supposed to pray in the name of Christ, I’m not supposed to say Jesus. That to me is a danger sign. They don’t want you to say the name of Jesus, and I have a problem with that.”
Our news department could not a clear cut answer from Bayhealth as to why the religious exemptions for Christian’s were denied during an interview with Bayhealth’s Vice Presidents of Marketing and Human Resources. Bayhealth also failed to provide the number of religious exemptions that were approved. And interestingly enough, hours after our interview on Tuesday, the following memo was sent to all employees, warning them not to speak to the media.
“Bayhealth employees should not be speaking to the media without approval and coordination with Bayhealth Marketing Communications. This includes all types of media — from print to radio to television.”
When our news department requested the specific policy they referred to in the memo, we were denied access.
According to Bayhealth, employees must receive their first shot of either Pfizer or Moderna no later than Thursday the 27th , if not they will have the option to take the Johnson and Johnson before a deadline next month of Febraury 28th.
Delaware Tech announces a strict proof of vaccine policy, effective for the summer and fall semesters.
The policy was emailed to all students on Friday and obtained by TV Delmarva.
“As a result of the recent holiday surge, Delaware has experienced record-high COVID incidence and hospitalization rates, crippling our health care systems statewide. Last week, four of our health care systems announced that they are operating under Crisis Standards of Care protocols because they are “stretched beyond capacity.” For these reasons, the College will require vaccinations for all students registering for summer and fall classes,” college President Mark Brainard says in the email.
Students will be required to show proof of vaccination registering for summer and fall classes. In addition any parent or visitor to the college will also be required to show proof of vaccination, beginning May 1. Online-only students are also required to show proof.
“This would include parents attending new student orientations, registrants for personal interest courses, and members of the public attending meetings and conferences. Additional information about how to prove vaccination status will be shared soon, so stay tuned,” Brainard says.
The new policy does allow for accommodations due to medical conditions or “sincerely held” religious belief.
Delaware Tech has been requiring vaccine records or a weekly COVID test for employees since September 2021. This mirrors a policy enacted by the University of Delaware in December 2021, which required all students to show proof of vaccine and booster shot to attend the spring semester.
“With record-high case numbers and the highly transmissible omicron variant, we had to take action to implement the most effective means necessary to protect the health and safety of our faculty, staff, students, and community stakeholders. Not only is this a top priority for us as we adhere to our mission of putting students at the center of everything we do, but it is also our duty and responsibility as a community partner,” Brainard says.
Beebe Healthcare will require all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than Christmas Eve.
The healthcare group made the announcement over the weekend that all staff must be fully vaccinated before December 24, 2021.
All new employees of the healthcare group, with its main location in Lewes, were required to be fully vaccinated upon being hired, while all unvaccinated existing employees were ‘grandfathered’ in and were only required to undergo weekly testing for the time being, that is until now.
The change comes amid a looming federal vaccine mandate that was ordered by the Biden Administration and as many other healthcare groups issue their own versions of a mandate.
Earlier this year, a vaccine mandate that was issued at ChristianaCare, a healthcare system largely operating upstate, led to roughly 150 employees refusing to be vaccinated and quitting as a result.
Governor John Carney and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) have formally issued an emergency regulation requiring educators, school staff, volunteers, and contractors working in Delaware schools to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing beginning November 1.
The requirement, which was first announced last month, applies to public and private K-12 schools.
“There’s no better way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and keep all Delaware children in their classrooms, than to get vaccinated,” said Governor Carney. “Our top priority has been to get all Delaware students back in school this fall. This requirement will help keep them there and prevent regular disruptions to their learning. These vaccines are safe and extremely protective against COVID-19 infection and serious illness. I encourage all Delawareans to get your shot and help us finally put an end to this pandemic.”
