SEAFORD — For the first time since spring 2020, masks were no longer required at schools throughout the state Wednesday.

When most school districts reopened in a hybrid format during the 2020-21 academic year — following virtual education at the start of the pandemic — masks were required.

The state also mandated masks in fall 2021, as Delaware students and teachers returned to a full five-day, in-person model.

On Wednesday, however, it was a welcome return to normalcy for some. But others continued to exercise caution.

Seaford High junior John Serviss shared his optimism.

“I can breathe better and all of that now, instead of smelling the mask all of the time (and) getting it stuck up my nose,” he said, adding that he had no objection to classmates who chose to cover up. “I don’t care. That’s their choice. It’s not mine.”

Fellow junior Cameron Knowles said that, not only did her breathing feel better, but she felt she was interacting more with others.

“I can actually, like, talk to someone without having to pull down my mask,” she said. “It’s easier to eat stuff and chew gum freely and be able to talk without having to pull down my mask, so they could hear me better. I like not wearing a mask. It was a very big pain.”

Gov. John Carney terminated the COVID-19 state of emergency and the school mask mandate at 6 p.m. Tuesday. He said his announcement was consistent with guidance issued Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

School districts moved quickly to approve their own guidelines, making face coverings optional Wednesday.

However, several students at Seaford chose to continue masking up.

“I just decided to wear it because I feel safer with it on,” said junior Haidy Garcia. “Pretty much, I’ve gotten used to it. I don’t mind wearing it. I have gotten COVID before (in January), and I know how it feels to get sick. So I’d rather not have to go through it again.”

Senior Cierra Holmes added, “I just want to take precautions, just in case. I want to stay safe for as long as possible. Since it’s our last year, I want to graduate and walk the stage. I am pretty much used to it now.”

Vanessa Sauver, also a senior, said masking was the best option for her, considering not everyone is vaccinated at school.

“Even though I am fully vaccinated, I’d rather get extra precaution,” she said. “I’ve gotten used to it. And yeah, it seems weird seeing people’s faces. It’s still like the new norm, seeing people with masks.”

Vanessa added that she is somewhat concerned for those choosing not to wear face coverings.

“I understand it is their option,” she said. “I feel like, if you are not vaccinated, you should keep yours on, just to be safe for people around you. But at the same time, it is optional. So I guess it’s up to them.”

In the Caesar Rodney School District, superintendent Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald said the atmosphere around school buildings was very positive Wednesday.

“There was a ‘first day of school’ feeling, as many younger students were happy to see the faces of their friends and teachers that they missed,” he said. “Middle and high school students were not as animated, but they were pleased to be able to interact.”

Many districts have stressed that they will continue to support those who wish to wear masks and asked students to respect others’ decisions.

At an Appoquinimink School District board meeting Tuesday, board member Shawn Rohe asked parents to have conversations with their children on the masking options before sending them to school.

“Educate your children on being respectful of the choice,” she said. “Bullying will not be tolerated.”

With the mandate expiring at 6 p.m. Tuesday, the first round of the boys’ basketball state tournament that evening was the initial event in the post-mask era.

At the Polytech-Dover High game, all the players and referees were maskless, though a number of fans still wore them. Polytech coach John Pierce also chose to wear a face covering but said his players were thrilled to be uncovered.

“I think everybody’s excited about that,” Mr. Pierce said. “Their eyes lit up (when he told the players).”

Dover’s Jaheim Harrell said it was much easier to play with no mask.

“I think it helped a lot,” he said. “We’re used to wearing masks, and some of us don’t like the masks. That was a big relief after a year, playing with them off. We finally get to take them off. There was a big difference. I didn’t really get tired as much as I would with the masks on.”

Mark Quillin, a longtime high school coach in Sussex County in his second month as Seaford’s athletic director, said removing masks was helpful for him to build connections. He called it a “great decision from our governor, as well as our school, to get the masks off the kids now.”

“I know, as athletic director, it was wonderful to see the people in the gym (Tuesday), seeing their smiles,” he said. “It is much easier to recognize people, of course. Me, as the new athletic director, they really didn’t know what I looked like until last night, really. So now they can put a name to a face.”

Seaford hosted Tatnall School in the basketball tournament Tuesday, and Mr. Quillin said it was heartwarming to share the news with Tatnall that masks would be optional.

“Man, they acted like it was the national championship,” he said. “When they walked in, they whipped the masks off and went into the locker room. It was an exciting evening being able to tell our fans that masks were optional. And some took advantage of it, and some were very excited about that decision.”

Sports editor Andy Walter contributed to this story.