Even as communities begin to open back up, the threat of COVID-19 remains.

And as a continued point of emphasis for local and state governments, the Centers For Disease Control has recommended the continued use of face coverings in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

In an effort to assure area residents have access to a mask, the Warren County Emergency Management Agency will be giving away masks on Saturday.

“We are doing this as a public service for someone who may not have a mask,” Warren County Emergency Management Agency Director John Elfer said. “We want to make sure all the citizens in Warren County and the city of Vicksburg that would like to receive a mask or want to use a mask can get one.”

The masks that will be given away Saturday are those that were purchased by the Warren County Board of Supervisors and some shipped to the county by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

In addition to a free mask, residents will receive literature as to how to properly wear the mask.

The mask giveaway, which will be a drive-through event, will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at the Vicksburg Mall on Pemberton Square Boulevard near Belk.

“We thought this would be an easy one-stop shop for folks and they don’t even have to get out of their car,” Elfer said.

Before Saturday’s scheduled giveaway, the Warren County EMA had offered masks to any resident who called and requested one.

“We have been providing masks the whole time,” Elfer said. “Anybody who has called our office or any of the board members or any of our local government groups who have asked how they can get a mask, we have been providing them one.”

Elfer said their goal of the mask giveaway was to encourage people to wear a mask. “We also want to encourage social distancing,” he said.