Cape district mask-wearing decision to be determined

While the mask mandate for Delaware schools will expire at the end of the day March 31, protocols for the Cape Henlopen School District have not yet been established.

Citing dramatic decreases in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations over the past several weeks, Gov. John Carney announced Feb. 8 that the school mask mandate will expire at 11:59 p.m., Thursday, March 31, to give parents time to get their school-aged children vaccinated.

Masking has helped keep kids in school during the pandemic, but has also created issues in the learning process, Carney said.

The six-week period until the mandate ends will also give school districts time to make decisions about mask wearing, and offer Delaware Division of Public Health and Delaware Department of Education time to update quarantine and contact tracing guidance, Carney said.

Some schools and geographic areas of the state have higher vaccination rates than others, Carney said, and schools may make their own decisions regarding mask wearing based on data in their own areas.

Cape district spokesperson Steph DeMalto said Feb. 10 that the district has not yet made a decision on mask-wearing protocols. Cape has historically followed state COVID-19 guidelines.

“We’ll be making the decision in early to mid-March so that everyone is aware of what to expect in our schools starting April 1,” DeMalto said.

The Cape district largely comprises students from Milton, Lewes, Rehoboth and Dewey Beach. State data shows vaccination rates by ZIP code; Milton is 19968, Lewes is 19958, and Rehoboth/Dewey are 19971. 

As of Feb. 14, full-vaccination rates in towns that feed into the Cape district are as follows: 75.9 percent in 19968, 83.8 percent in 19958, and 81.9 percent in 19971.

As of Feb. 10, Cape district vaccination rates provided to the Cape Gazette are as follows: employees, 82 percent; high school students, 53 percent; middle school students, 35 percent; and elementary school students, 6 percent.

Positive cases listed on the Cape district website have decreased in recent weeks. From Feb. 7-13, 25 positive cases were reported, and from Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 41 cases were reported.

These decreases follow 77 positive cases recorded Jan. 24-30, 121 positive cases reported Jan. 17-23, and 101 reported cases Jan. 10-16.

Regarding whether Cape will issue mask-wearing recommendations for unvaccinated individuals, and if test-to-stay and weekly testing programs will continue, DeMalto said details will be shared when available.

To find a vaccination site, go to coronavirus.delaware.gov.