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Pioneer Park Coalition, Vietnamese community team to deliver masks to jails

UPDATED: MAY 11, 2020 AT 5:28 AM

(FILE PHOTO)

BY MARK JACKSON
Anchor and reporter

The Pioneer Park Coalition and the Vietnamese community are teaming together in a donation of masks to the Salt Lake County Jail. A presentation takes place Monday, May 11th at 11 a.m. at the Sheriff’s Administrative Office at 2001 State Street in Salt Lake City. According to a press release sent out on Sunday, the project will help inmates at Oxbow and Metro jails to get access to two masks each in order for the inmates to have freshly laundered masks.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Rivera say they are grateful to the Pioneer Park Coalition and their partners in the Vietnamese community for their generous donation of homemade cloth masks.

“These masks will be distributed to inmates in both Metro and Oxbow jails to help keep everyone healthy and safe,” says Sgt. Carrie Fisher, spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

After many businesses in the Vietnamese community closed, owners and operators wanted something to do that would help lend a hand to those on the front lines. Huong Wang reached out to her former beauty students and within ten days, they had sewed over 7,000 masks.

“We feel that to help our healthcare system not getting overloaded, individuals also need to have some type of protection to prevent the spread of the virus. Therefore, we are giving the masks out to anyone that needs them,” says Wang.

Dave Kelly, chairman of Pioneer Park Coalition says they are excited about partnering with the Vietnamese community, saying that the donation of masks will help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect those at risk.

“We are inspired by the effort and dedication of these Vietnamese Utahns to provide this generous donation, and are happy to facilitate this amazing effort,” says Kelly

The coalition hails the strong community leadership found in the Vietnamese population and encourages everyone to continue using masks and safe self-distancing.

How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronaviruses transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Don’t touch your face.
Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
Get a flu shot.