‘Wear The Damn Mask’: Hogan Quote Now On Face Coverings For Sale

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland's coronavirus metrics are getting worse. Hoping to combat the fall surge in cases, Gov. Larry Hogan's pleas to stay safe have gotten more assertive.

"Just wear the damn mask," Hogan said at a press conference last week.

The demand has started to gain traction. Route One Apparel, a Maryland-themed clothing company, hopped on the trend. Within days, it started selling a mask decorated with the slogan.

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#MasksOnMaryland Through @routeoneapparel, you can get your own "Wear The Damn Mask" mask.https://t.co/wR6oTZ3zEM pic.twitter.com/p7fYEu8npg
— Mike Ricci (@riccimike) November 9, 2020

The mask costs $10 and is available at this link.

Baltimore's Senator Theatre also joined in. The retro venue posted the quote on its marquee on Monday.

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Leaders have also adopted the phrase. Baltimore's top health official, Dr. Letitia Dzirasa, told residents to "Wear the damn mask," during a Thursday livestream.

Hogan's guidance comes as coronavirus-related hospitalizations are climbing. The positivity rate is also on the rise, and the cases rate is the highest it has ever been.

Maryland reported 1,869 new coronavirus cases on Friday. That broke the state's single-day record. The previous high of 1,784 new infections came on May 19.

Hogan upped his urgency on Tuesday, rolling restaurants and bars back to half capacity. They could previously operate at 75 percent capacity in most jurisdictions.

"We cannot afford to ignore these trends and patterns," Hogan said, announcing the switch. "We have now crossed over into the danger zone."

Anne Arundel County was one of several jurisdictions to announce even tighter mandates. County Executive Steuart Pittman reduced eatery capacities to 25 percent on Thursday. They were previously limited to half capacity in Anne Arundel County.

Pittman explained the decision by using Hogan's new catch phrase.

"We know that you can't 'Wear the damn mask' when you're eating," Pittman said. "You can't 'Wear the damn mask' when you're drinking."

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