State Launches Mask Awareness Campaign

Aug. 3, 2020

At a Springfield press conference late this morning, Governor J.B. Pritzker launched a new $5 million public awareness campaign to encourage Illinois residents to wear a face covering every time they're in public. The campaign will include advertisements on broadcast and cable television, radio, billboards and social media in the communities with the greatest risk from COVID-19.

“I'm proud to launch a new public awareness campaign today that has a straightforward message for Illinoisans: A mask is like anything that keeps us safe. It only works if you wear it,” said Governor Pritzker. “We've made so much progress since the beginning of this pandemic. Let’s protect that progress. This is our moment to pull together as families, friends and neighbors. We're all safer and stronger when we go all in, Illinois.”

The Governor introduced a statewide mask-wearing requirement on May 1, and called for a national mask mandate during his testimony at a U.S. House committee hearing on July 8. Research demonstrates that wearing a face covering is one of the most effective ways of decreasing the spread of the virus, and the latest research indicates it could also provide protection to the wearer.

Like Illinois’ other coronavirus-related expenses, costs for the public awareness campaign are reimbursable by the federal government. To see or download the videos, audio and images, click here.