House of Reps write letter to Gov. Carney to get him to reconsider COVID-19 restrictions

DELAWARE– It’s been almost 2 years since COVID-19 was first detected in the First State, and some members of Delaware’s House of Representatives are ready for a return to normalcy.

They recently wrote a letter to Governor John Carney said it’s time for his administration to reconsider some pandemic restrictions.

“What we are seeing from our perspective and I think the Governor is feeling as well is that people are getting very impatient with the lack of progress,” Representative Stephen Smyk, said.

And, for Representatives Smyk and Ruth Briggs King they feel there are a lot of mixed messages when it comes to COVID-19 restrictions.

“Sitting in Joint Finance Committee and knowing that looking at all the seats where members of the public used to come in and seeing those marked off where no one can sit and then know that I can go to a restaurant and sit at a table next to them some of this just doesn’t make sense,” Representative Briggs King said.

They also note that based on State health metrics COVID hospitalizations, the percentage of positive tests, and the percentage of new cases are all trending downward in Delaware.

“I think we are all much more educated about making good healthy decisions for ourselves and others and being mindful of that,” Representative Briggs King said.

Some of Delaware’s Representatives now feel it’s time to end all pandemic-related restrictions and return all state workers to their normal places of work. During a press briefing Tuesday, Governor Carney addressed the letter

“I have not seen the letter yet, but we have tried hard to keep open lines of communication with all legislators,” Governor Carney said.

As of Wednesday, the Governor hasn’t released any additional comments, but Representative Smyk is hopeful Governor Carney will eventually get back to him and his constituents.

“The Governor has a lot on his plate, he has a lot to concern himself with, with everybody and he’s that kind of gentleman that is going to concern himself with everyone’s concerns,” Representative Smyk said.

Representative Smyk said although the Governor was recognized in the letter- it’s also addressed to his staff and the medical community that’s giving him advice.

We reached out to the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, but they did not get back to us as of air time.

Representative Briggs King also told us pandemic restrictions are causing delays for both businesses and the public, and she’d like that to stop.