State agencies collaborate to provide masks to school districts

500,000 face coverings to be delivered

Posted 8/14/20

Thanks to a joint effort, 500,000 face coverings will be delivered to school districts around the state.

The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming …

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State agencies collaborate to provide masks to school districts

500,000 face coverings to be delivered

Posted

Thanks to a joint effort, 500,000 face coverings will be delivered to school districts around the state.

The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Department of Education are partnering to provide the washable cloth coverings to help districts meet safety needs for reopening schools this fall.

According to current state public health orders, face coverings are required in schools when 6 feet of physical distancing is not possible.

“We know some individuals can transmit the virus to others before they feel or show any symptoms,” said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer. “It’s also becoming increasingly clear the virus spreads mainly between people when they are close to each other.”

She said cloth face coverings “have been effective in helping to block the spread of the virus.”

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow said the delivery of these face coverings is one of many accomplishments arising out of strong state and private partnerships.

“This pandemic has required state and local collaboration between public and private entities at a level that has not existed in the past,” said Balow. “As a result, we’re seeing incredible partnerships formed that will hopefully remain permanent.”

The coverings will be distributed this month to school districts across the state through the partnership between state agencies and county emergency management.

“Each emergency manager will in turn coordinate with their local school districts to arrange for distribution of the face coverings,” said Lynn Budd, director of the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security.

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