Over 900,000 masks and other protective supplies will be distributed to farm workers in North Carolina.

Gov. Roy Cooper announced the step to help protect the state’s agricultural industry and its workers from COVID-19 this week.

Cooper says agriculture is vital to the state’s economy and food supply, and North Carolina must protect the farmers and their families from the coronavirus.

The masks and protective equipment are being distributed to farms through the North Carolina Cooperative Extensions across the state.