Although there is no mask mandate, the state of New Hampshire is launching a campaign to remind younger individuals why it's important to wear a face covering.
During a Tuesday news conference, Gov. Chris Sununu said the "Don't Go Viral" campaign reminds younger individuals to not only wear cloth face masks but to also socially distance and take advantage of testing in an effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The campaign, with messages like 'Keep Your Tags Virtual. Wear a Mask' and 'Don't Take a Selfie. Take a Test,' will target platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok.
The governor said the point of targeting younger individuals is because they tend to be asymptomatic carriers.
The announcement came as the governor said returning to school in the fall would require a higher demand for testing, contact tracing and personal protective equipment.
Last Tuesday, Sununu announced guidance for how New Hampshire public schools should reopen this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the highlights of the 54-page recommended plan is for desks to be placed 3-6 feet apart and daily screening of students, staff and visitors.
Health officials will be looking to build up testing capacity in college settings due to the fact that students will be heading to New Hampshire from all areas of the country, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said during Tuesday's news conference.
Earlier in the day, Sununu announced that New Hampshire has secured another "shipment of lifesaving PPE" with the help of inventor and Granite State resident Dean Kamen. The more than 400,000 gowns will be delivered to the Department of Veteran Affairs and distributed to facilities across the country.
The PPE was paid for by the Department of Veteran Affairs but facilitated by the state and Kamen, Sununu said.
"This is an all hands on deck effort, and New Hampshire is proud to play our part to help deliver these lifesaving materials to VA hospitals across the country," Sununu said.
As of Tuesday, there were two new deaths reported as a result of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. The death toll in the Granite State now stands at 400, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
There were 16 new positive cases reported Tuesday for a total of 6,265.
"We know that COVID 19 is still out there, so people still need to take precautions," Chan said.
More on the Coronavirus in New Hampshire
Cases in New Hampshire continue to be low and stable, Chan said, but health officials want residents to keep limiting large gatherings, wear cloth face coverings and practice good hand hygiene.
Also on Tuesday, Sununu announced the state was launching the New Hampshire General Assistance & Preservation Fund which will provide emergency relief to businesses and nonprofits impacted by the pandemic.
Businesses that were not eligible for the Main Street Relief Fund, or who had errors in their application, and nonprofits who were not covered under the Nonprofit Relief Fund are eligible to apply for the fund.
