Protesters gather in front of Beebe Healthcare

More than 100 protesters – including many healthcare workers – lined both sides of Savannah Road in front of Beebe Healthcare Dec. 4 to demonstrate against what they called unconstitutional mandates imposed by the government relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. They joined a growing trend of more and more people demanding freedom of choice, not mandates.

The protest comes during a time of confusion about the fate of mandates. Federal courts have blocked the Biden administration’s proposed vaccination mandates for all healthcare workers and all businesses employing 100 workers or more. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Nov. 16 that it would suspend all implementation and enforcement of mandating vaccinations and testing in the workplace.

Prior to the court action, Gov. John Carney had issued mandates in Delaware for all state employees and healthcare workers to be vaccinated or begin regular testing by Sept. 30, and all teachers and school staff to be vaccinated by Nov. 1 or submit to weekly testing.

Mandates are in place for wearing face coverings in all federal and state buildings, and for all teachers, staff and students in Delaware schools.