Packers mask Vince and Curly to emphasize better pandemic behavior as coronavirus continues to keep fans out of the stands

GREEN BAY – Vince and Curly are masked up.

The message from the Green Bay Packers is: You should be, too.

Black masks with the Packers "G" on them were placed on the Vince Lombardi and Curly Lambeau statues Thursday at Lambeau Field. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the team has encouraged people to wear masks, socially distance and wash their hands thoroughly and regularly.

"We thought putting masks on our iconic statues of Vince and Curly would help send that message. We hope it's a fun way, a fun reminder, to help people to remember to do what they can do in a very serious manner," said Aaron Popkey, Packers director of public affairs.

With infection rates and deaths continuing to climb across Wisconsin, the Packers said again on Wednesday that no fans will be allowed for home games at Lambeau Field for the foreseeable future.

"We would certainly love to have fans at games. Mark Murphy has said that. The players would love to see fans, and we are very prepared to do that," Popkey said. "Protocols we have in place, that we've seen other teams and other stadiums do, have proven to be effective. To even get to that point, we need our numbers to come down in the community."

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Green Bay ranked 19th in the nation as of Thursday in a New York Times' analysis of infection rates in metro areas, and Wisconsin was third-highest among the states. Over the past seven-days, the average rate of positive tests for COVID in Brown County on Wednesday was 37.26%.

Nearly 120 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in Brown County Wednesday, down from 133 people on Monday, according to the county health department.

State health officials reported the county's 104th death from the virus.

The Packers are scheduled to play San Francisco Thursday night in Santa Clara, Calif. There will be no fans at the game.

In seven games this season, the Packers played in front of a limited number of fans in Tampa and Houston. The only other game this season at which fans are now expected to be allowed is Nov. 22 in Indianapolis.

The next Packers home game is Nov. 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Five of the final eight games of the regular season will be at Lambeau Field.

The masks on the statues were custom-made by Elevate 97, a Green Bay-based advertising, branding and design agency. They are about 12 inches by 18 inches, made of polyester with a cotton backing. The cotton is to protect the surface of the statue.

Contact Richard Ryman at (920) 431-8342 or rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at  @rrymanPG or  on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/