Montgomery County and Business Partners Launch #MaskUpMoCo Campaign

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 9, 2020

            Montgomery County Government, partnering with the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, Visit Montgomery and the local business community today launched a multi-platform outreach campaign, #MaskUpMoCo. The campaign is designed to educate County residents and visitors about the importance of wearing a mask in public and outdoors when unable to maintain physical distance. #MaskUpMoCo is a partnership between the County government and the business community and comes from a shared recognition that in order to continue reopening the County safely, businesses and government must work together to promote public health best practices. The campaign that will be shared in seven languages will include social media messaging, Ride On bus ads, public service announcements, lawn signs and print materials for businesses, including window signs, to display.

            The #MaskUpMoCo campaign is the latest effort to urge residents to do their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by properly wearing a mask whenever they cannot maintain six feet of distance. To minimize risk of exposure to COVID-19, everyone over the age of 2 should wear a face covering that covers their chin, mouth, and nose.

            “One of the most important things we can all do is to wear a mask and wear it properly,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The data show that wearing a face covering is one of the most important ways to reduce the spread of the virus. Wearing a mask allows our businesses to be open and operate safely. Please don’t make a business owner have to ask you to wear a mask. Wear a mask to protect yourself and those around you. Together we will get through this.”

            In late August, a County liquor store employee was assaulted by a customer whose friend had been denied entry to the Potomac store because they were not wearing a mask.  The customer was later arrested and charged with assault.

            “Businesses recognize that proper mask wearing is essential to ensure their customers and employees stay safe and healthy during these times,” said MCEDC President and CEO Benjamin H. Wu. “The #MaskUpMoCo campaign is an important partnership with MCEDC, Visit Montgomery, Montgomery County government and our local chambers of commerce to keep businesses open and operating.”

            “As residents of Montgomery County and Maryland, we can all do our part to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask,” said Kelly Groff, president & CEO of Visit Montgomery. “The #MaskUpMoCo Campaign reinforces the importance of wearing a mask to residents.  We can all make a difference with two big steps, social distancing and wearing a mask.”         

            In a social media survey completed by Montgomery County Government in late July and conducted in English and in Spanish, an overwhelming majority (91 percent) of the 2,700 respondents reported wearing a mask is “very important to slow down the spread of COVID-19.” More than three quarters (78 percent) of respondents also reported seeing many people wearing masks improperly, such as exposing the nose.  

            Download materials about the #MaskUpMoCo campaign, including flyers, graphics and posters at www.MaskUpMoCo.com.

            For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website as well as the County’s data dashboard or follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCountyMD. 

            Put the “count” in Montgomery County! Be sure to complete the Census online, by phone, or by mail. It’s safe, confidential, easy, and important. #2020Census #EveryoneCountsMCMD

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Release ID: 20-483
Media Contact: Mary Anderson 240-777-6507