Governor John Carney on Tuesday announced that everyone kindergarten-age and older in K-12 schools and child care homes and centers must wear face coverings indoors effective on Monday, August 16 – regardless of vaccination status. The requirement covers both public and private schools in Delaware. Child care centers and homes are strongly encouraged to require masks for children 2 years old to kindergarten inside their facilities to prevent spread of COVID-19. Children younger than 2 years old should not wear masks due to risk of suffocation.
The statewide mask requirement in schools, which will be formalized later this week, is consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and will help all Delaware students safely return to classrooms full-time this fall for the 2021-2022 school year. Children younger than 12 remain ineligible for COVID-19 vaccination at this time.
As of Monday, August 9, 73.7 percent of Delaware adults, and 71.6 percent of those 12 and older, have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit de.gov/getmyvaccine to find a free COVID-19 vaccination provider near you.
“There’s no higher priority than getting all Delaware children back in their classrooms full-time this fall,” said Governor Carney. “This consistent, statewide approach will help students, educators and staff return to school safely and without disruption. Vaccination remains the best way to finally put an end to this pandemic. These COVID-19 vaccines are free, safe, and highly effective against COVID-19 infection and serious illness. If you haven’t gotten your vaccine, consider it. Talk to your doctor and your friends who have received their shot. That’s how we’ll keep students in classrooms and keep moving forward.”
Additionally, Governor Carney announced Tuesday that state employees and visitors to Delaware state facilities must wear masks indoors, consistent with CDC guidance, starting Monday, August 16. This applies to all individuals, regardless of their vaccination status. Additional requirements around vaccination and testing for state employees and others are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Governor Carney on Tuesday also formally extended the Public Health Emergency order in place to allow the State of Delaware and medical providers to continue COVID-19 vaccination and testing programs. Under Delaware law, Public Health Emergency declarations must be renewed every 30 days.
DECLARATION OF A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE
WHEREAS, in connection with the serious public health threat from the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) that has impacted the State of Delaware, I issued a Declaration of a Public Health Emergency for the entire state, effective as of July 13, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the State of Delaware continues to face a serious public health threat from the spread of the highly transmissible variants of the coronavirus, and the need to vaccinate Delawareans against the coronavirus continues; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Delaware’s emergency management statutes, a Public Health Emergency proclaimed by the Governor may not continue for more than 30 days without being renewed; and
WHEREAS, I find that the conditions necessitating a Public Health Emergency continue to exist and require that the Public Health Emergency declaration be renewed.
NOW THEREFORE, I, JOHN C. CARNEY, hereby declare:
The Public Health Emergency effective as of July 13, 2021 is extended, effective immediately.
Pursuant to Title 20, Chapter 31 of the Delaware Code, all provisions of the Public Health Emergency currently in place shall remain in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with state law.
APPROVED this 10th day of August 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
John C. Carney
Governor