The state has seen a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases since Thanksgiving. More than 25% of COVID-19 tests are positive.
BY
Associate News Editor
AND
Associate News Editor
Gov. John Carney signed into effect a universal mask mandate for the state of Delaware in the face of a winter surge of COVID-19. This mandate also takes effect amid the university’s plan to transfer to an in-person format this winter session.
As of Jan. 11, all individuals kindergarten-aged and older are required to wear a mask while in any indoor space open to the public regardless of vaccination status. Mask requirements for public and private K-12 schools, which originally would have expired in February, have also been extended with this mandate.
The law exempts individuals from wearing masks when actively eating or drinking, outdoors, in office spaces when there is at least a six-foot difference between individuals, in houses of worship or during activities where wearing a mask is not feasible, such as dental appointments.
The state has seen a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases since Thanksgiving. More than 25% of COVID-19 tests are positive.
This revision to the State of Emergency declaration cites major surges in hospitalizations across the state, which have burdened healthcare workers and impeded the ability for patients to get proper care.
“Our hospital systems are facing a crisis-level situation with record numbers of Delawareans seeking emergency care,” Carney said in the declaration. “I know we’re all exhausted by this pandemic. But at the level of hospitalizations we’re seeing, Delawareans who need emergency care might not be able to get it.”
The governor previously deployed 70 more members of the Delaware National Guard to assist with COVID-19 mitigation efforts such as helping with distributions of vaccinations, masks and tests, while also helping relieve hospital staff. In total, more than 300 members of the Delaware National Guard are assisting with COVID-19 response efforts.
“It’s time for everyone to pitch in and do what works,” Carney said. “Wear your mask indoors. Avoid gatherings or expect to get and spread COVID. Get your vaccine and, if eligible, get boosted. That’s how we’ll get through this surge without endangering more lives.”
Masks are useless against the spread of covid. The pandemic has been politicized to prevent honest physicians and healthcare workers from speaking up for fear of being canceled. The vaccines are not much better. Vaccinated people get covid spread covid and die from covid. If we focused on therapeutics and early treatment we could be saving lives instead of making pharma execs rich.
I so agree with you, but we are talking to a wall. They don’t want to hear the facts. Why is Delaware over run with Covid? Because Delaware is over run with people taking Covid tests for sniffles!
Most dying of inability of our doctor to continue needed treatment. Due to everything covid and even with 2 and boost still problem it may not work
If wearing a mask worked or being vaccinated we would have been out of this along time ago. But that doesn’t make money. Uhm… wonder what’s next,, maybe put us in a bubble like in Beijing where the 2022 winter Olympics are. I know I’m not the only person who sees this. The rest of you need to wake up!!!
I so agree with you, but we are talking to a wall. They don’t want to hear the facts. Why is Delaware over run with Covid? Because Delaware is over run with people taking Covid tests for sniffles!
If this is a mandate across NCC, why aren’t indoor mask wearing being enforced by store management?
I am a single black mother and I’m sure I’m not the only one saying this I’m scared. I’m scared of the vaccine and scared of this virus so I feel like my back is up against the wall. Scared of the virus cause the government released this deadly virus then blames it on someone else. I’ve seen what the government can do. I don’t trust anything about them so my family and I we just keep clean have no one around us. We also keep our mask on. Nobody in my family has been sick thank God. I don’t have no problem staying in for a while at least I’m alive
We still have to keep living even though it’s a virus. I can’t stop being a mother to my children but it sure looks like the government takes off when they want. I can’t get an answer from the unemployment office. My children and are hanging on by a thread with housing. No money to move around. I call unemployment hotline they tell me call you back haven’t heard from them in 2 months. I’m getting interviews with no gas to get there. Everyone and everything is using this virus as an excuse not to do any work. I’ve worked 2 jobs since it’s started never complain cause I can’t I have my children to feed. I’ve called the government nothing. What do I have to do to get some help around here
“The law exempts individuals from wearing masks …”
It’s a mandate. Not a law. Get it right.
Carney is an idiot.
Mask mandates haven’t worked for over 2 years, but now will work for the “omicron” variant (formerly know as the “common winter cold”).
Critical thinking (much less common sense) isn’t apparently a prerequisite for being Gov of De or serving in its administration.