WILMINGTON — Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz Jr. announced Monday that the state judiciary will lift its mandatory mask rule for employees and visitors at all court facilities Wednesday.
“After conferring with our infectious-disease medical expert, Dr. Alfred Bacon, who has served us so well throughout the pandemic, he agrees with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new guidance and thinks it is reasonable at this time to drop the indoor mask requirement and unvaccinated employee-testing requirements,” said Chief Justice Seitz.
Under the new CDC guidance, masking is no longer recommended in areas rated as either low and medium risk. New Castle County is rated low risk at this time, while Kent and Sussex counties are rated medium.
As part of lifting the mandate, the judiciary will also be ending its mandatory testing program for unvaccinated employees. However, Chief Justice Seitz said testing is still recommended for anyone showing signs of COVID-19, adding that any person who is experiencing symptoms will be asked to stay away from court buildings until they clear or he/she receives a negative test.
Additionally, while the mask rule will be lifted, the chief justice said people who are more comfortable wearing a face covering should feel free to do so.
“It is important to note that we will continue to monitor the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will not hesitate to change course, if needed, to protect everyone from serious illness,” he said. “Thank you for your patience as we have navigated together this unprecedented public health crisis.”
The Delaware judicial branch first imposed a mask mandate April 15, 2020, then ended it in July 2021. It was reinstated Aug. 16, 2021, following a sharp spike in infections and community transmission due to the delta variant of COVID-19.
