Gov. Carney to extend mask requirement in schools

Gov. John Carney, the Delaware Department of Education, and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services said Nov. 10 that the emergency masking requirement in public and private K-12 schools will be extended until Feb. 8. ​

The emergency masking regulation currently in effect is set to expire on Dec. 10, with an option to extend the order another 60 days, officials said. The extension will be formalized later this month. Separately, DOE and DHSS regulations previously proposed in the Register of Regulations will be amended and reposted without ​the masking requirements. Republican legislators had recently questioned whether the regulation as written had an end date in sight for the school mask mandate.

“Delaware children from kindergarten through high school are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, which will go a long way in protecting the health of students, educators and school communities statewide,” Carney said. “It’s our hope that, by February, we will be able to lift the state mask requirement. Our focus over the coming weeks and months will be on increasing Delaware’s vaccination rates. That’s how we’ll finally move past this pandemic. These vaccines are free, safe and extremely protective against the COVID-19 virus. Getting the shot will keep Delaware’s children protected, and keep them in school. I’d encourage all eligible Delawareans to get their shot.”