Germantown launches campaign for face masks
The city of Germantown launched a city-wide masking campaign Tuesday, distributing city-branded face masks at high-traffic locations in the city, to remind people to comply with health department orders.
Masks will be handed out at grocery stores, big-box retailers and other shopping areas. People who are already wearing face coverings can get other items in addition to the masks, such as small bottles of hand sanitizer or stickers with messages about social distancing and handwashing, according to city spokesperson Jessica Comas.
City officials said they are initially hoping to encourage and reward compliance with the Shelby County Health Department’s health directive issued earlier this month requiring masks or face coverings in public places, rather than penalize people who do not mask.
The horse statues all around town have been fitted with face masks as part of the campaign, to try to keep masking at the front of everyone’s mind. Comas said there will also be signage about the campaign at the entrance to the city, and around the central business district.
“The masked horses are part of a City initiative designed to encourage residents and visitors to take personal responsibility for helping to slow the spread of COVID-19,” the city said in a release. “Germantown Fighting Together is about taking responsibility for the health of our community by taking personal steps to ensure the health of ourselves and our loved ones by wearing a mask, frequent hand washing and social distancing.”
Beyond wearing face coverings, the city is trying to encourage people to continue to social distance and practice proper hand hygiene, the three steps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local infectious disease experts have stressed as essential to flattening the curve and reducing transmission locally and across the country.
Germantown Fire Department John Selberg said those steps were also essential for protecting first responders.
“These three small actions can make a big difference for your firefighters and police officers as we continue to do our work,” he said.