DELAWARE- Delaware Governor John Carney says the first state is entering a new phase in the battle with the pandemic.
A phase of optimism with new cases at 450 on a 7-day moving average and hospitalizations down to 237. He decided those numbers allow for the indoor mask mandate for businesses to be lifted later this week. There are many factors he considers when making that decision.
"We follow the data," Carney said. "We consider the spread of the virus in states around us. We look at the actions of those states. We look at compliance in our state".
The governor has been asked week after week how long the mandate would be in place. His answer was the same every time.
"Not one day too long," Carney said. "Figuring out when that one day is is not as easy as it sounds."
Masks will still be required in state buildings, healthcare facilities, and public transit.
The schools and child care centers mask mandate is going to be lifted by April. Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Dr. Karyl Rattay says the pediatric vaccination numbers have to improve and she has concerns about the five to eleven age group.
"This is an area that’s important to us in public health and the Department of Education to continue to work with community, with pediatricians but also with schools to do what we can to increase these vaccinations," Dr. Rattay said.
Entering a new chapter where the coronavirus numbers and the amount of mandates are declining.