$5M COVID-19 mask campaign: 'It Only Works if You Wear It'
Pritzker calls for compliance considering ‘very disturbing trends’
The “It Only Works if You Wear It” ad campaign will distribute videos and posters on TV and social media. (Illinois Governor’s Office)
By Ted Cox
Hinting that more stringent mitigation efforts might be necessary considering the “very concerning trends” on the resurgence of COVID-19 statewide, the governor announced a $5 million media campaign Monday calling on Illinoisans to wear a mask in public.
Calling face coverings “one of the most important things we can do to keep healthy and safe,” Gov. Pritzker announced a wide-reaching media campaign advocating masks on the theme of “It Only Works if You Wear It.”
Pritzker cited that the state has called for people to wear masks since May 1, adding, “We’ll continue to need them until the pandemic is over.” But he blamed failure to wear a mask in some areas — especially when combined with large gatherings in settings like bars or at sporting or social events — for the “very concerning trends,” which saw 11 counties issued warnings on COVID-19 outbreaks on Friday.
On Sunday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported the 12th straight day of newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 above 1,000 statewide, with 1,467 announced, bringing the state total to 181,943. Over the weekend, Illinois also topped 7,500 deaths attributed to the coronavirus, reaching 7,517. On Monday, IDPH announced a 13th straight day above 1,000, at 1,298 new cases, with the death toll reaching 7,526.The seven-day positivity rate on testing rose to 4 percent.
On Friday, the Office of the Governor praised Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder for “requiring bar employees to wear masks or be subject to fines.” Pritzker echoed that Monday at a news conference Langfelder attended at the Operations Center for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in Springfield.
Pritzer insisted the mission of the public-service campaign was to encourage use of masks and face coverings, as “there are people who are just refusing to do it.” Yet he welcomed local leaders who might put some teeth behind it, saying mask scofflaws are “putting other people at risk, so it’s worthy considering a fine at the local level.” He said the aim was not to burden police with enforcement.
“We’re not asking police … to chase people down,” he said. The ad campaign was intended, instead, to encourage the widespread use of masks. “Government action isn’t the only answer,” Pritzker added.
“Wearing masks is actually quite effective” at slowing transmission of the coronavirus, Pritzker said. “It’s one of the most important things we can do to keep healthy and safe.”
Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike again drew parallels with the use of seatbelts in cars, life vests on a boat, and helmets when playing football or riding a bike, saying, “It keeps us safe, but it only works if you wear it.”
“We really want to focus on masks and mask protection,” said Alicia Tate-Nadeau, acting IEMA director. She added that Illinois had already distributed more than 30 million masks statewide, including 2.5 million to schools and 450,000 to businesses considered “critical infrastructure,” such as meat plants.
But Tate-Nadeau warned that new restrictions could be imposed if COVID-19 infections continue to increase. “If we continue on the track we’re on, we’ll need to look at bringing back some restrictions that we’ve seen over the last few months,” she said. “Nobody wants that. We haven’t seen enough people wearing face coverings and following the rule we put in place on May 1. If more people do their part by wearing a mask in public, we can move forward, not backward. Let’s go all in, Illinois.”
“We’ve made so much progress since the beginning of this pandemic,” Pritzker said. “Let’s protect that progress.”
The governor also renewed calls for Congress to approve emergency funding for state and local governments to make up for lost tax revenue in the pandemic as part of the next COVID-19 relief package. He pointed out that all states are going to need that aid to maintain essential public services. “This is going to be up to the Congress,” Pritzker said. “They’re the ones who have the ability to help us and the other 50 states.”