Delaware lifting school mask mandate

Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) has announced the phased lifting of mask mandates for schools and indoor settings over the next two months.  

In a tweet on Monday, Carney said the mask requirement for K-12 public and private schools and child care facilities will end on March 31. 

Carney also said the state’s mask mandate for indoor public places will be lifted on Feb. 11.

“I want to be clear about this point: COVID is still circulating in our communities. The virus still poses a risk of serious illness, particularly among those who are not up to date on their vaccinations,” Carney said in a tweet. 

“But we have the tools to keep ourselves and each other safe. Get vaccinated. Get your booster. That’s especially important for children, where we continue to see low rates of vaccination,” Carney continued. 

“For all the parents out there – the best way to keep your child in school learning, and to prevent them from getting sick, is to get them vaccinated. It’s that simple.”

Carney’s announcement comes as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy plans to end the state’s school mask mandate in mid-March, with an official announcement expected Monday. 

Public health experts have are also starting to advocate for lifting mask mandates, warning that pandemic rules cannot last forever.

“We cannot remain in a perpetual state of emergency,” Leana Wen, a public health professor at George Washington University, told The Hill last week. “People burn out.”