Hoping to protect the mostly elderly residents of its The Golden Tower Hi-Rise by slowing the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 coronavirus, HAC officials have launched the “Masks200” initiative.

It’s named after HAC’s estimate that it needs at least 200 reusable masks to equip residents, staff, and others at the apartment complex with a homemade protective mask, whose use has been recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for non-health care workers as an added level of protection (in addition to social distancing).

The masks are particularly important because health officials say the elderly and people with disabilities or underlying health conditions are most at risk from the coronavirus strain, said Jon Adkins, HAC’s director of resident services.

“The Housing Authority wants to do everything in its power to equip our residents to be as safe as possible,” Adkins said. “Every donated mask will potentially reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”

Shortly after it announced the initiative, the housing authority received one large shipment of cloth masks from a donor, Adkins said. But he said more will be needed as time goes on.

Anybody who is interested in supporting the initiative should contact Adkins at jadkins@hacov.org or at (859) 655-7316.

Limited protection

How effective is a cloth mask?

The Northern Kentucky Health Department is distributing this information from the Kentucky Department of Public Health: HERE.