California is putting up over 400 billboards around the state and releasing new public service announcements to encourage residents to wear masks when they are out in the public.
The PSAs are being released Thursday in several languages with the theme, “Wear a mask. Slow the Spread.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom said he wants the announcements out before the Fourth of July weekend.
“We don’t want to see you, a bunch of strangers without being physically distanced, without face coverings over the weekend.” he said.
As July 4th approaches, the mood has soured. Infection rates and hospitalizations are rising fast.
Most bars have been ordered closed along with inside dining at restaurants.
Many beaches are off-limits or have restrictions to limit crowds and fireworks shows have been canceled
Newsom imposed the nation’s first statewide stay-at-home order in March, earning praise from public health officials as virus cases stayed relatively low in the nation’s most populous state for more than two months.
But the order devastated the economy, forcing most businesses to close and prompting more than 6.7 million people to file for unemployment benefits.
As the spread of the virus slowed in May, Newsom moved quickly to begin allowing businesses to reopen across the state.
Bars got the green light on June 12 and images quickly emerged of throngs of patrons packed tightly together, many not wearing masks as required by the state.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
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