Where can I get free N95 masks in Phoenix? Fry's and some Walgreens have received their shipments

Brock Blasdell and Amaris Encinas, Arizona Republic
·2 min read
The CDC has lifted its mask recommendation for Maricopa County.

The 400 million nonsurgical N95 masks promised by President Joe Biden have started to arrive in Phoenix pharmacies, but many are still on the way.

The Arizona Republic contacted dozens of Phoenix pharmacies on Tuesday to figure out what pharmacies had received their shipment.

You can now find some of the free N95 masks at Fry's and select Walgreens. Some pharmacies didn’t have any information on when their first supplies would arrive, but Banner Family Pharmacy and Phoenix Pharmacy have confirmed they are on the way.

Here is a list of stores and pharmacies in metro Phoenix where you can find the government issued N95 masks.

Where to find free N95 face masks in Arizona:

Fry's Food Stores announced Tuesday that Arizona customers can access a free N95 mask at any store while supplies last.

  • Customers should look for the branded display or ask an associate for assistance

  • Every customer is allowed up to three masks

Walgreens stores have free N95 masks at two participating locations in Phoenix while supplies last, according to the Walgreens website. Masks have been sent to the first wave of stores and will continue rollout to additional stores in coming weeks.

  • 4111 N. 24th St.

  • 1825 W. Bethany Home Rd.

CVS stores in Phoenix don't know when masks are coming, but you can call your local CVS pharmacy to see when they are set to arrive.

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A spokesperson for the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers, a pact of health providers and organizations operating across Arizona, said that several of their community health centers have also placed orders for masks, but did not confirm which organizations will receive them.

The promised masks come at a time of unprecedented spread of COVID-19 through the Omicron variant. The order for more masks by the Biden administration followed closely after the administration opened up covidtests.gov, a new website where people can request free, federally supplied at-home coronavirus tests.

The N95 masks will be sourced from the Strategic National Stockpile and are a direct response by the Biden administration to address medical supply shortages that have persisted since early 2020.

Federal sources haven’t established a hard limit for how many free masks people can take, but they have indicated supplies will be limited and are first come, first served.

Reach breaking news intern Brock Blasdell at Bblasdell@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @BrockBlasdell.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Free N95 masks in Arizona: Pharmacies begin to receive first shipments