Biden administration's free N95 masks make their way to local pharmacies
The region’s portion of the 400 million free nonsurgical N95 face masks from the nation’s strategic stockpile are making their way into area grocery stores, health clinics, and pharmacies starting this week.
Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart pharmacies will begin distributing up to three free masks to each customer who requests them and while supplies last. The first ones should be arriving by Thursday, and the full supply should be in place within the first two weeks of February.
The Kroger located at 318 Mall Blvd. expects to receive its first shipment of masks on Friday, according to the pharmacist on staff. The pharmacist at the Walgreens on the corner of Victory Boulevard and Skidaway Road said she was unsure when the first masks would arrive. Both sites encouraged customers to check back frequently.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends nonsurgical N95 masks as the gold standard for preventing the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus because of the static charge that increased their ability to filter small particles. The CDC has been encouraging people to move away from using cloth masks. NIOSH-approved KN95 masks are also effective.
N95 masks are also reusable up to several days as long as they remain clean and have not become damp, bent, creased, or damaged.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Biden administration free N95 masks make their way to local pharmacies
