Senior citizens in the parish were offered face masks for their use in protecting themselves from potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The distribution took place Thursday at the Council on Aging.
Executive Director Liz Cannon and Peggy Young handed out the masks. Cannon said, “All together we will be distributing 300 masks today. We will give them to the people we send meals to their homes. And we will give them to the seniors who come to pick up lunch today. This is in addition to those we are giving out this morning.”
Young gave The Journal instructions for using the masks. Young said, “They are washable and reusable. Wash with underwear after each use. Do not bleach. Then hang them up to dry.”
Yesterday the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office posted about the Masks:
Many people have called our office in reference to the availability of free face masks for residents of Red River Parish. The limited number of masks that are available are being provided through a joint effort of the Red River Parish Police Jury and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP).
Shane Hubbard, OEP (Office of Emergency Preparedness) Director for Red River Parish, has provided the following information:
Masks will be distributed by the Red River Parish Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness. They will be made available to our senior citizens and essential workers.
While supplies last, seniors aged 60 or older may receive masks by visiting the Red River Parish Council on Aging from the hours of 8:00 am to 1:00 pm (M-F) or by contacting their office at (318) 932-5721.
Managers of essential businesses must directly contact the local OEP office for information on how to procure masks for their workplaces by calling (318) 510-0221.
Hubbard said that they gave masks first to city workers, EMS and fire, police jury, and other public employees. He said that school workers who maintain the schools over the summer and employees of the school board would also be supplied with masks.
Hubbard cautioned people to wear their mask over both nose and mouth. “I see so many people wearing them below the nose. That defeats the purpose because your nose draws in anything that is on the mask,” said Hubbard. He also noted that you should not touch the outside of the mask with anything, not our hands, and definitely not your cell phone.
Pictured below are Cannon and Young handing out masks to Bill Gray for him and his wife Rudy.