Pixabay
Pixabay
About 8,500 people live in Greenlee County and volunteers are aiming to deliver protective masks to each one of them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A community-wide effort initiated by the Greenlee County Health Department and spearheaded by Amanda Gray, who is the occupational medicine department manager for the Gila Health Resources clinic in Morenci.
On March 11, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency. Since then, measures across the state have been implemented, many in accordance with continuing executive orders from Ducey, to protect and support those living in Arizona. In Greenlee County, officials have been encouraging residents to wear protective masks when leaving their homes.
“We need to make sure we protect each other by masking up because you might have it and you might not know it. We protect each other, that’s what we’re committed to. ‘Stand up and mask up,’ that’s our motto because you’re standing up protecting other people,” Gray said. “You’re reducing the transmission.”
It took over 200 volunteers just ten days to make and organize almost 1,500 homemade masks. These masks are passed out to supporting community organizations and volunteers to donate to people in their communities and across the county. Organizations such as local fire departments and churches are hosting drive-in mask distribution events.
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