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Troup County, Georgia Emergency Management and Troup County Emergency Management are collaborating to ensure every citizen in Troup County has access to a face mask to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

The news release said the “Mask Troup County” campaign aims to ensure all residents who need face coverings have access to them. The county is encouraging all residents to wear face masks in public settings to continue to mitigate the spread of the virus.

According to Georgia District 4 Public Health, Troup County COVID-19 cases have increased by 437 in 12 days. The numbers increased from 417 cases on June 6 to 863 cases on Thursday.

Any residents that need face masks are encouraged to contact EMA Director Dennis Knight at (706) 884-0326 or dknight@troupcountyga.gov.

“The ultimate goal of the #MaskTroupCounty campaign is to slow the spread of the coronavirus,” Knight said in an email. “We want to ensure that anyone who is in need of a mask has access to a mask, and we encourage everyone to continue to wear masks while in public.”

The first distribution of masks will take place from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday at the following locations:

• Franklin Forest Elementary School, 1 Scholar Ln., in LaGrange
• Berta Weathersbee Elementary School, 1200 Forrest Ave., in LaGrange
• Hogansville Elementary School, 611 E Main St., in Hogansville.

The second distribution will also take place on Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations:

• Ark Refuge Ministries, 504 E Depot St., in LaGrange
• LaGrange Housing Authority, 201 Chatham Street, in LaGrange and 611 Borton Street, in LaGrange
• District 4 Public Health, 301 Main St., in LaGrange
• West Point Tech Training Center, 1122 O G Skinner Dr., in West Point
• Hogansville Public Library, 310 Johnson St., in Hogansville

The third distribution will be on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the following locations:

• Ark Refuge Ministries
• LaGrange Housing Authority
• West Point Tech Training Center
• Hogansville Public Library, 310 Johnson St, Hogansville, GA 30230

During Wednesday’s LaGrange Rotary Club meeting, Georgia Department of Public Health Assistant Director Amy Fenn said the plan is to distribute more than 60,000 masks to the public.

According to Troup County Communications Manager Rachel Camp, the campaign originated when the public health department reached out to the county. The health department suggested the county request masks from the state emergency management agency. The masks were then provided to the county by the state agency.

Camp said Thursday the county and state EMA have partnered in the past to hand out masks, and that the county will most likely continue to set up distribution sites until all masks are handed out.