In Orange County, face coverings are now required for any person 12 or older in any public setting where social distance cannot be maintained.
Secretary Mandy Cohen of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services urged North Carolina residents to assist state efforts to reduce the spread of the virus by wearing masks in a live-streamed COVID-19 update with Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday.
“This is a moment where our individual actions will determine how we fare as a state,” Cohen said. “I ask each North Carolinian to take the simple actions of wearing a face covering that covers your nose and your mouth. We will keep doing our part at the state level to promote prevention, increase testing, expand contact tracing — but that won’t get us there alone.”
Kristin Prelipp, Orange County Health Department's public information officer, said Orange County Emergency Services ordered 30,000 masks and distributed 22,000 to public safety partners, human services organizations, migrant farm workers, older adults and those who cannot afford masks on their own, among other community groups.
As of Monday, the Town of Carrboro has distributed over 900 masks, said Catherine Lazorko, communications manager for the Town. She said a supply of 2,500 to 3,000 masks remained.
Lazorko said the Town of Carrboro will distribute masks to those in need at Collins Crossing Apartments, Carolina Apartments and Royal Park Apartments on Saturday, June 27.
“Carrboro Fire Department personnel and local nonprofit partners are going door to door to distribute masks in neighborhoods,” Lazorko said.
According to an eNews release, The Town of Chapel Hill has distributed around 5,000 masks at the local food bank distribution, to public housing residents and to partners serving vulnerable Chapel Hill communities.
Margaret Hauth, Hillsborough planning director and assistant town manager, said that of 500 masks received by the town, 390 were distributed to four income-restricted apartment complexes and 110 were distributed at a PORCH Hillsborough food distribution in the northern Fairview community.
