Free Government-Issued N95 Masks Are Coming to a Store Near You. Here’s How to Get Them.
Nearly a week after the Biden administration announced it will deploy 400 million free N95 masks to the public, the high-quality face coverings are starting to arrive at pharmacies and grocery stores. The White House launched its latest effort to combat COVID-19 following new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC now says cloth masks are no longer as effective in preventing the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus and that people should wear an N95 or KN95 mask.
The widely coveted nonsurgical N95 masks are coming from the Strategic National Stockpile, which has more than 750 million of them on hand. The program, which is also distributing the free masks to community health centers around the country, is ramping up in the coming days and should be up and fully operational by early February.
“Every person is allowed up to 3 free masks pending availability,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.
From free COVID-19 tests and free N95 masks to millions of shots in arms each week, we’re working to curb COVID-19 and protect Americans. Together, we will get through this.
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 26, 2022
Stores such as Kroger, Meijer, CVS, and Walgreens should be receiving their supplies as soon as this weekend, with other pharmacies participating as well. The CDC has a list of participating pharmacies in the Federal Pharmacy Retail Program, initially set up for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, that will be giving out masks.
Eight days after @POTUS announced 400M free masks, we're rolling at Hy-Vee in West Des Moines.
President Biden delivers. pic.twitter.com/swx3KLqYjo
— Ben Wakana (@benwakana46) January 22, 2022
As of now, there are only three free N95 masks being distributed per person. If you want more than three, you’ll need to buy them. Several merchants specialize in NIOSH-certified N95 mask sales, as well as KN95 masks and KF94 masks, with reasonably fast shipping.