Photo gallery: The pandemic in 2020
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Editorial Team
Editorial Team
As we push forward into a new year, here’s a look at the pandemic in Sussex County in 2020, including the pain, the hope and the perseverance.
Ever since March brought the first shutdowns — intended to slow the spread of this respiratory disease — COVID-19 has impacted almost every part of our lives. ‘Virtual’ schooling, work, concerts, church services, meals and funerals came first. ‘Drive-through’ dining, trick-or-treating, baby showers and birthdays quickly followed.
Parks, schools, beaches and town halls all had a turn being closed (and many still are). Some businesses have suffered great loss, while others ran on hyperdrive. Thousands of teachers and families had to figure out an education plan that flips the traditional classroom on its head. And COVID-19 was the backdrop as citizens stood in long lines on Election Day or demonstrated for Black Lives Matter.
Through the uncertainty and loss — it feels like everyone’s lost something, big or small — we push forward to keep living, one way or another.
Graduation hug
Two IRHS graduates hug in June of 2020, after three months apart.
Osias family gives groceries
Lisa Difebo and Jeff Osias carry food and groceries to their employees at DiFebo's restaurant during COVID-19 shut-downs in March 2020.
Business road sign offers hope to drivers
Handy’s Self Storage on Route 54 offers a warm reminder on a rainy day: Stay calm, Be civil, Be safe.
Remote learning on laptop
Chase Mutz studies remotely at home for Lord Baltimore Elementary School in autumn of 2020.
Indian River High School Graduation 2020
Indian River High School staff work to sanitize the bleachers at the school's football stadium between the two separate graduation ceremonies held for members of the Class of 2020 on Friday, June 19.
Curbside delivery at South Bethany Seafood 2
Wearing gloves and a mask, Ashley Nauschuetz brings fresh fish and a portable credit card machine outdoors to complete Debbie Meltzer’s order at South Bethany Seafood Market in May. Like many food-service establishments, the market was forced to adapt to pandemic safety restrictions.
Physical distancing sign in Bethany
A sign at Bethany Beach boardwalk in June of 2020 reminds visitors to practice social distancing, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Blue Water Grill alfresco
Jessica Wiggins has expanded the dining at her Blue Water Grill in Millsboro — all the way outside. The restaurant now has an alfresco dining area that provides safe social distance, as well as food and drinks from its menu.
Drive-thru Trick-or-Treating
Halloween looked a little different in 2020, as many trunk-or-treat events changed to a drive-through system, to reduce the pandemic's spread. But the end result was the same: fun costumes and sugary treats.
IR Boys' Soccer vs. Newark Charter School - State Champs
Omar Baker goes for a header at the boys' soccer state championship. Student athletes were allowed to play this autumn with many precautions, like wearing masks.
Grocery store social distancing
Floor markers showing customers how to distance (by at least 6 feet) had become a familiar sight by the end of 2020, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Clayton Theater closed
Dagsboro's historic Clayton Theatre closed indefinitely on Tuesday, March 17, anticipating Gov. John Carney's March 18 mandate for movie theaters to close, and doing it with a dose of wry humor.
Frankford Park padlock
When the COVID-19 shutdowns began in March of 2020, Frankford locked up the playground full-time. Regular maintenance has continued, but the gates only opened for the Christmas lights display nights in December.
Selbyville Town Council in masks 2
Town council meetings were mostly canceled or moved online in spring of 2020. Back in person, everyone had to get used to new protocols for distancing and masks. Here, Selbyville Town Council dons masks for their July meeting.
Laptops for IR- Assistant Principal Bennett Murray at JMC
Assistant Principal Bennett Murray conducts the laptop drive-through line at John M. Clayton Elementary School with custodian Darlene Waters looking on in April of 2020.
IRHS Back to School 2020 science
Megan Hines explains that many science textbooks are online this semester, as Indian River High School students pick up books for remote learning in fall of 2020.
Neighbors sing Happy Birthday
South Bethany neighbors sing ‘Happy Birthday,’ mostly continuing to wear masks and practice social distancing in May of 2020.
Curative testing trailer in Bethany
Pop-up test sites for COVID-19 are hosted at different locations each week across the state, including here in Bethany Beach in early November 2020.
Candy Kitchen 'Be Safe'
The sign at Candy Kitchen in Fenwick Island tells customers "Be safe, See you soon" as Delaware enters a shutdown situation in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Editorial Team
Editorial Team
The Coastal Point's editorial team includes our editors (print and digital), reporters, photographers and social media staff. Email editorial@coastalpoint.com with story suggestions, letters to the editor, questions, concerns, praise, corrections...
