CHARLOTTE, N.C. (News Release) – Atrium Health is celebrating a momentous milestone, announcing that it has distributed more than 3 million free masks throughout the Charlotte region to help stop the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus, COVID-19. This marks more than three times the original goal outlined in the Million Mask Initiative, a public-private partnership between Atrium Health, several of the state’s largest businesses and state and local public health departments, which was announced in June 2020.
As the number of COVID cases continues to decline, state and local mask mandates have been eased, yet there are still many people in our community – such as those who are unvaccinated or are immunocompromised – who benefit from wearing masks and need those around them to also wear them.
“Getting these masks into the hands of those who need them most has been critical in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. David Callaway, chief of crisis operations at Atrium Health. “We set out with a goal to distribute 1 million masks and surpassed that goal three times over, a tremendous feat that would not have been possible without the collaboration of all of our community partners.”
Last summer, COVID case rates slowed as this initiative hit the one million mark, but Atrium Health recognized the important work of getting masks to some of the most vulnerable populations was not complete. Atrium Health would not have been able to lead the mask distribution efforts and hit more than 3 million masks distributed without the continued support through its partnership with state, county and city entities, along with business and other non-profits.
Several successful distribution events throughout the last year include at Bank of America Stadium and Charlotte Motor Speedway, during the mass vaccination clinics, to nearly 90 daycares, faith communities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, barbershops, homeless centers and many more.
Atrium Health will continue to distribute masks in the community, including during this summer’s upcoming Kids Eat Free Program. For more information about the Million Mask Initiative, including a list of locations and times when residents can pick up masks, as well as participating partners, please visit www.AtriumHealth.org/freemasks.
