GOP senators to state: Don’t follow Philly’s mask mandate

Delaware’s seven Republican senators have asked the state’s top doctor not to reinstitute a statewide indoor mask mandate.

The letter came after the City of Philadelphia last week announced its mandate would be coming back due to a rise in cases there. 

Restaurants, museums, businesses, offices, government buildings and arenas in Philadelphia began requiring masks Monday morning. 

Dr. Karryl Rattay, director of the Division of Public Health, has not said anything to indicate mandates would return in Delaware.

“We believe strongly that our small businesses, schools, and overall societal health have greatly improved in the time that our mandates and State of Emergencies have not been in effect,” the letter reads. “Our state’s school children have experienced great improvements to their mental health and academics in the month or so since the school mask mandate was lifted.”

The senators said bringing back the kind of restrictions and mandates seen throughout the pandemic would “hinder the progress we have made towards returning to normalcy.” 

In a statement provided to Delaware LIVE News Monday afternoon, Rattay did not directly address the letter.

“We are watching a slight uptick in Delaware’s cases, positivity rate and hospitalizations, but Delawareans know what to do to stay safe,” Rattay said.

She offered a list of precautions folks can take to protect themselves against COVID:

• “Make sure they are up to date on their vaccines, including boosters.
• Stay home if they feel sick.
• Get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been a direct contact of someone who tested positive.
• Wear a well-fitting mask in public indoor settings if they are immunocompromised, are around someone who is immunocompromised, or feel more comfortable doing so.”

Here’s the letter from the Republicans in its entirety: