Gaston County started a new campaign to promote the use of facemasks or coverings while out in public, such as shopping. The county is also providing facemasks. | Adobe Stock
Gaston County started a new campaign to promote the use of facemasks or coverings while out in public, such as shopping. The county is also providing facemasks. | Adobe Stock
Gaston County unveiled a campaign to promote and remind community members to wear facemasks or coverings to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
County officials created Gaston SAVES, which stands for Safety, Awareness and Vital Emergency Support. Also, the county built a website called GastonSaves.com to help with more information about COVID-19. The county also came up with the #MaskTogetherGC campaign.
"Every decision we make has an impact on us, our families, our coworkers and friends," Gaston Public Health Director Steve Eaton said in a Sept. 5 statement, "but also on the whole community, our businesses and schools and our ability to manage this together."
County officials said that the campaign would run through the end of 2020. The county used a portion of the federal CARES Act to fund the Gaston SAVES initiative.
The county wanted to launch the campaign before Labor Day after recent spikes in cases roughly 10-14 days following both Memorial Day and Independence Day.
As of Sept 4, the county started providing facemasks to citizens at each of its library branches. Pickup hours are 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Branch locations are available at GastonSaves.com.
"We do not want there to be any barriers for our citizens to get what experts say is a simple, but effective way of keeping each other safer," County Manager Dr. Kim Eagle said.
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