New Campaign to Urge Public to Wear Masks

July 31, 2020

The American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and American Nurses Association today released a public service announcement (PSA) urging the American public to take three simple steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19: wear a mask, practice physical distancing and wash hands frequently. The PSA is the first element of a comprehensive campaign to increase public acceptance of these essential actions and builds on the groups’ open letter to the public released last month.

“For months hospitals and health systems and caregivers have heroically battled COVID-19. Following the science, evidence and the advice of our clinical partners when it comes to wearing masks, practicing good hand hygiene and social distancing has proven effective in stopping the spread and now is not the time to go backwards, ” said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “Everyone has a critical role to play and working together we can ease the surge of patients that need to be cared for and to ensure our brave front-line caregivers can win the fight against this virus.”

Last month, IHA and several other healthcare and business organizations issued a public plea urging Illinoisans to wear masks when in public to save lives and protect jobs.