400 million free N95 face masks are dispensing - here's how to get them
The Biden administration aims to provide 400 million N95 masks to all Americans for free at drugstores and community health centers next week; a White House official told the Wall Street Journal. The masks will be fully operational by early February.
"This is the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in US history," the official said. "Experts agree that concealment is an important tool for controlling the spread of COVID-19."
According to the official, three masks will be available per person, and most pharmacies affiliated with the Federal Pharmacy Vaccine Program will distribute the masks.
The move comes after scientists and doctors expressed concerns about the effectiveness of single-layer cloth masks to protect against the spread of the Omicron variant. The CDC updated its mask guidelines on January 14, saying that adequately fitting N95 covers provides the "highest level of protection."
Biden noted last week that it was not easy to find high-quality masks. I get it. But… it's an essential tool to stop the spread, especially the highly transported Omicron variant."
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