Michigan health department to give out free KN95 masks to residents
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The Michigan health department will be giving out 10 million free KN95 masks to residents to help them protect themselves from the coronavirus and the highly transmissible omicron variant.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made the announcement Thursday, with masks being distributed by community organizations, including state and local health department offices, Area Agency on Aging offices, Community Action Agencies, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
For more information, go to Michigan.gov/MaskUpMichigan.
Some agencies will further distribute masks to local partners, such as homeless shelters, according to the website. Residents are asked to refer to the organizations' websites or social media sites to find out about mask availability instead of calling.
“We have the tools and we know what works as we face down the omicron variant of COVID-19,” Whitmer said in a news release. “By distributing 10 million highly-effective KN95 masks, we can keep families and communities safe. ... Together, we can keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.”
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Michigan reported about 13,712 new confirmed coronavirus cases each day Tuesday and Wednesday, according to state data released Wednesday. Hospitalizations are trending down, but there still were 3,859 people — adults and children — hospitalized with confirmed cases of the virus, according to the data.
State Health Department Director Elizabeth Hertel said officials are urging residents to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities.
“Wearing masks are important in helping limit the spread of coronavirus, particularly the easily spread omicron and delta variants. Today’s distribution of KN95 masks will help more Michiganders limit the spread of COVID to save lives and get back to normal sooner," she said.
The masks are in addition to the 400 million N95 masks that are being given free to adults by the federal government from the National Strategic Stockpile — masks that are or will be available at retailers, such as Meijer, CVS, Walgreens and Kroger.
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The state said Costco, Rite Aid, Walmart and Sam's Club also are among the retailers that are to begin free distribution of the N95 masks.
Meijer stores received about 3 million masks, but a store in Roseville had none left Wednesday morning. A CVS store and a Walgreens store, both in Detroit, did not have the free N95 masks yet Thursday.
The federal government also is shipping four free, at-home antigen COVID-19 tests to households that signed up at COVIDtests.gov.
More: At-home COVID-19 test website is live a day early: How to order via USPS
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Some of those test kits have already started arriving in mailboxes in Michigan. But a few hiccups have been reported, including people living in apartment buildings having difficulty getting them.
Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, said in a briefing Jan. 21 that "almost every resident in an apartment is able to order a test." He said the U.S. Postal Service is seeing a "very limited" number of cases where addresses are not registered as multi-unit buildings within its database and it is working to fix that issue or are helping people through the process.
Zients said "we will make sure that those people get tests for free" and said people can fill out a service request on the website or call the hotline on the Postal Service website to get the issue resolved.
For those with questions about eligibility, the online ordering form, shipping, delivery or to file a service request, call the Postal Service help desk at 800-275-8777.
The COVIDtests.gov website has a phone number, 800-232-0233, for those who can't access the internet to get help from 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, and in more than150 languages.
People with disabilities can place orders by calling 888-677-1199 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday or emailing DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.
Dr. Asha Shajahan, a family medicine doctor with Beaumont Health, said to bring the tests in from the bitter cold and let them sit at room temperature for at least two hours before using them to ensure accuracy.
Dr. Dennis Cunningham, system medical director of infection control and prevention for Henry Ford Health System, said Thursday that at-home tests will work past the expiration date, adding that "it's safe to say a few months would not make a difference." He recommends keeping the tests away from direct sunlight or heat.
More: COVID-19 hospitalizations beginning to ease, Detroit-based Henry Ford Health says
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance on masks Jan. 14, saying loosely woven cloth masks provide the least protection; well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer more protection, and well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators, including N95 masks, offer the highest level of protection.
Masks need to fit closely on the face without any gaps along the edges or around the nose; they need to cover your nose and mouth and be comfortable to wear.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan health department to give out free KN95 masks
