Raleigh police chief part of event to hand out masks, hand sanitizer

As the coronavirus numbers climb, doctors repeatedly emphasize there's one thing that really works to slow the spread of the virus: masks.

Posted 9:43 p.m. Jul 11, 2020 — Updated 10:53 p.m. Jul 11, 2020

Sarah Krueger

, WRAL Durham reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — As the coronavirus numbers climb, doctors repeatedly emphasize there's one thing that really works to slow the spread of the virus: masks.

On Saturday, Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown was part of an effort to help give out masks for those who need them.

Face coverings have been required statewide for a few weeks now. Raleigh police want to make sure people have access to them. So, as part of a drive-thru event in East Raleigh, Deck-Brown joined others to hand out free masks and hand sanitizer.

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"We’ve tried to make it as simple as possible," Deck-Brown said. "They don’t have to get out of their vehicles. And we’re giving them a packet here, with a mask and hand sanitizer, as well as water, and hot dogs on the end.

"We thought that this would be a great opportunity and partnership, and with the community, to really come out and make sure that our community really does have the basic element, which is the mask, and hand sanitizer."

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In Apex, Wake County Public Health officials were offering free COVID testing for at-risk residents, including frontline workers and those over age 65. The turnout was pretty tremendous at both locations.

Local officials said they were trying to do their part to fight the virus.

"Today is really about trying to make an impact in the pandemic that we’re seeing, not only across our city and our county but across the state and the country," Deck-Brown said.

Click here if you'd like to learn more about free COVID-19 testing events in Wake County.

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