The government is sending free N95 masks to “tens of thousands” of pharmacies across the nation, which will be made available to the general public.
The rollout is to help curb the spread of the highly contagious Omicron COVID-19 variant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend either an N95 or KN95 mask; cloth masks are no longer consider effective.
Unlike the free at-home testing kits the government is mailing to households through the United States Postal Service, you will have to go out and get it if you want a free mask. The masks are expected to be available sometime this week. However, the government has not said what stores locations will have them yet, or when they will start dispensing.
NPR reports that it confirmed that Kroger stores with pharmacies, CVS, Walgreens, and Meijer will all be handing out the masks. The outlet reached out to the companies directly.
CVS told USA Today in a statement that “signs will be posted to indicate N95 mask availability.” They are expected to arrive at locations “as early as Thursday.”
“Every person is allowed up to 3 free masks pending availability,” according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
The masks will be made available from the Strategic National Stockpile. This is the largest rollout of PPE in the nation’s history.
“We’ve already shipped millions of these masks out. And across the coming days, masks will begin to be available at local pharmacies, and community health centers across the country,” White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said last week.
