SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- And just like that, masks won't be required again in Delaware.
On Monday, Governor John Carney signed an extension to the state of emergency lifting the universal mask mandate this Friday.
In a statement, the governor said COVID-19 is still in communities but feels the state has the tools to keep people safe referencing vaccines and boosters.
Grain On The Rocks Lewes General Manager Jason Meisner sees the move as a sign of progress.
"We're really excited first of all that cases and hospitalizations are declining so rapidly," Meisner said. "That'll allow us to safely get back into the approach of not having to wear masks."
But Meisner also says any staff member or guest who feels more comfortable wearing a mask is more than welcome to wear one.
The Delaware Restaurant Association released data on how restaurants have struggled during the pandemic, saying most restaurants have seen a decline since 2019. President/CEO Carrie Leishman says mask mandates do not make it easier.
"When we didn't have a mask mandate and then had to have one again, it puts a lot of stress between the consumer and between the patron and the place of business," Leishman said. "So it was a stressful time."
On top of the lifting of the public indoor mask mandate, Governor Carney says the end of the road for the school and child care center mask mandate is March 31 at 11:59 p.m. He says that timing will allow parents to get their kids vaccinated in time.
For the staff at Kids Cottage in Rehoboth Beach, they cheered about the news. Center Director Sheri Mark says a face covering affects a child's learning.
"There are children, there are parents here that we haven't seen their faces especially the parents," Mark said. "And being in early care and education seeing their faces, the children's eyes that's a big part of growth and development here. Speech, they can't see us smiling."
Governor Carney says the March 31 date will also allow districts and schools to consider local mask requirements, as well as the Division of Public Health and the Department of Education to work with schools on quarantine and contact tracing updates. Carney will hold a COVID-19 briefing Tuesday at 1:45 p.m.
The coronavirus data has been a roller coaster in recent weeks but the numbers are improving now leading to another change in requirements.