Nagsimula nang magbenta ng mga team-branded face masks ang National Basketball Association (NBA) at Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), kahapon, Biyernes.
Mapupunta sa mga hunger-relief organizations (ang Feeding America sa United States at ang Second Harvest sa Canada) ang malilikom na pera, sa gitna ng novel coronavirus pandemic.
Mabibili ang mga masks sa leagues’ online stores. “As a global community, we can all play a role in reducing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic by following the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s) recommendation to cover our nose and mouth while in public,” sabi ni Kathy Behrens, pangulo ng social responsibility and player programs ng NBA. “Through this new product offering, NBA and WNBA fans can adhere to these guidelines while joining in the league’s efforts to aid those who have been directly affected by covid-19.”
Unang nagsagawa ng opisyal at lisensiyadong team masks sa United States ang dalawang liga, sa kabila na ang non-licensed products ay ibinibenta via online ng mga retailers gaya ng Amazon at Etsy.
Samantala, isang kumpanya ng sports apparel ang Fanatics, ang tumahi ng NBA at WNBA masks, kung saan noon lamang nakaraang buwan ay ipinahinto ang kanilang produksyon ng mga uniporme ng Major League Baseball sa pagawaan nila sa Pennsylvania. At ang mga tela nito ay gagawing protective masks na ibibigay sa mga medical professionals.
Inirerekomenda ng CDC ang paggamit ng face masks dahil ayon dito, “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.” Ang simpleng pantakip sa mukha na ito ay maaring, “slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others,” dagdag pa ng ahensiyang CDC.