Photo: ClearMask
New York City will distribute thousands of transparent face masks to help New Yorkers who are deaf or hard of hearing, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
Over 100,000 transparent face masks will be distributed across the city, Mayor de Blasio said, adding that UNIQLO is donating about 25,000 of those masks.
“We have learned over the month that there is literally no tool more important than having that face mask,” de Blasio said. “ But face masks have caused a challenge for New Yorkers who are deaf.”
Since face mask cover the lower half of the face, some New Yorkers with hearing disabilities who use read lips and facial expressions have found it harder to communicate during the pandemic, de Blasio added.
