Gov. John Carney has lifted Delaware's temporary ban on short-term rentals and the requirement for out-of-state travelers to quarantine for 14 days.
Outdoor gatherings of up to 250 people, including weddings and outdoor ceremonies, will also be allowed in the coming week, the governor announced Tuesday. Cloth face coverings must be worn and people must stand six-feet away.
These are the latest restrictions the governor has eased up on as Delaware plans to restart parts of its economy in the coming week. Like the reopening of restaurants and businesses, these latest announcements take effect June 1.
Carney will also lift the state's stay-at-home order on June 1, though he cautioned people in a news release to "continue to avoid unnecessary outings and gatherings to limit community spread of COVID-19."
READ: A Memorial Day weekend like no other: Traffic, but plenty of parking at the beaches
Organizers who want to host a large, outdoor event can apply to do so by submitting a plan to Delaware Division of Small Business at least seven days prior to the event. The Department of Education is also expected to release a plan on Tuesday about outdoor graduations.
"While we are slowly reopening our economy," Carney said in the release, "it’s critical that Delawareans not rush out and undo all the hard work they’ve done to get us to this point. Let’s continue to be cautious and responsible as we ease our way into this new normal.”
The Delaware beaches and boardwalks fully reopened for Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. At the time, only Delawareans and those non-residents who completed the mandatory quarantine were allowed to take advantage of the sandy beaches.
At an outdoor press briefing in Lewes, Carney said Monday that he was "really impressed" by the number of people he saw wearing masks and social distancing this weekend.
Yet at some locations along the beaches, people were seen doing the opposite. This weekend, photos circulated of crowded beaches and boardwalks in Ocean City, Maryland.
In Delaware, the ban on short-term rentals resulted in cancellations for thousands of rental properties in an area that supports a significant number of seasonal businesses and workers.
Carney has faced pressure in recent weeks to lift the short-term rental ban. Earlier this month, Patrick J. Murray, a Delaware resident, filed a lawsuit in federal court regarding these restrictions.
READ: Why Sussex County has seen a drastic increase in coronavirus cases
The Sussex County Association of Realtors asked the governor in a letter to lift the ban and the mandatory quarantine so those tourists can "enjoy the attractions that made them choose to spend time here in Delaware, rather than go to a neighboring state, perhaps never to return."
This is a breaking news story. Check delawareonline.com for updates.
Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 324-2386 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @merenewman.
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Carney lifts ban on short-term rentals, mandatory quarantine for non-residents on June 1 - The News Journal
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