How to Get Free N95 Masks? When can you get them?

When Can You Get Them and How? What to Know About Free N95 Masks From White House

Americans Get Free N95 Masks, At-Home Rapid COVID Tests

The White House announced it will be giving away hundreds of millions of N95 face masks. Here’s how you can get one.

Where will you be able to get Free N95 masks

Beginning next week, the Biden administration is expected to start making 400 million N95 masks available for free to U.S. residents. But how many can you get and how can you get them?

Where will you be able to get free masks?

The White House announced Wednesday that the masks will come from the government’s Strategic National Stockpile, which has more than 750 million of the highly protective masks on hand. The masks will be available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers across the country.

The White House said the masks will be made available at pharmacies and community health centers that have partnered with the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Illinois-based Walgreens said it will be partnering with the administration to “make N95 masks in varying sizes available free of charge at select Walgreens locations nationwide while supplies last.”

“We know masks are an effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19. We are currently finalizing the operational details of this program and will provide more information once available,” a Walgreens spokesperson said in a statement.

How to Get Free N95 Masks From the Government?

It has been clear for some time that N95 respirator masks and other high-filtration masks like KN95s and KF94s provide the highest level of protection against the transmission of COVID-19, and that the cloth and surgical masks many Americans wear are inferior.

But the government has been slow to act on this information. On Friday, the CDC finally updated its face mask guidance to emphasize the better protection offered by respirators like N95s and KN95s.

And this week, the Biden administration unveiled plans to make 400 million N95 masks available for free at pharmacies and community health centers across the country — an effort the White House is touting as the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in U.S. history. Here is what we know about the government’s free-mask plan so far.

Where can people pick up their free N95 masks?

The masks will be available at tens of thousands of pharmacies and federal community health centers across the country. Most of the pharmacies that have partnered with the federal government to distribute COVID vaccines will participate in the mask program, according to The Wall Street Journal.

How To Order Free N95 Masks And COVID-19 Tests From The Government

NBC’s senior consumer investigative correspondent Vicky Nguyen joins the 3rd Hour of TODAY with how to get free N95 masks and COVID-19 test kits from the government. She also shares how to spot fake versions of those items when buying online.

When can you get them?

They will begin shipping this week for distribution starting late next week, the White House said.

How many can you get?

The White House said that “to ensure broad access for all Americans, there will be three masks available per person.”

What kind of masks will you get?

The White House said the masks will be N95 masks. Details were not immediately available on the specifics of the program, including the sort of masks to be provided, whether kid-size ones will be available and whether the masks could be reworn.

Which masks are best against omicron?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday updated its guidance on face coverings to more clearly state that properly fitted N95 and KN95 masks offer the most protection against COVID-19. Still, it didn’t formally recommend N95s over cloth masks.

The best mask “is the one that you will wear and the one you can keep on all day long, that you can tolerate in public indoor settings,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said last week.

Previously, the CDC didn’t recommend that the general population wear N95 masks or KN95s, a similar type of mask made in China, fearing that demand would impact the supply in health care settings.

KN95 masks, as well as N95s, filter out at least 95% of air particles, but N95 masks have stricter pressure drop requirements and are regularly considered the “gold standard” for masking.

N95 or KN95 masks are more widely available now than at any other time during the pandemic, though they are often more costly than less-protective surgical masks or cloth masks.

Earlier this month, Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, stressed that “everybody wearing a mask is the most important thing.”

“The biggest jump in protection is from no mask to any mask,” she said during a question-and-answer session.

Why is this happening now?

Federal officials are emphasizing that N95 masks offer better protection against the Omicron Variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings.

How to spot fake vs. legit N95 and KN95 masks

The CDC warns 60% of KN95 masks on the market are fakes.

To stay protected in the meantime, how do you know the masks you’re buying online are legit?

When it comes to N95, KN95 or KF94 masks, a lot of us just don’t know what to look for.

“No, actually don’t. It’s confusing, yeah it is,” said shopper Brooke Voelker.

“I’m actually a dental hygienist, so I know all about them and they are really hard to find good ones,” added shopper Autumn Wagner.

In fact, the CDC warns 60% of KN95 masks on the market are fakes that are not up to quality standards.

“It’s pretty scary, isn’t it? There are so many companies advertising these KN95s on Amazon and they’re totally not all up to par,” Wagner said.

It’s why Project N95 is helping cut through the confusion.

The nonprofit sells masks that meet safety standards and offers advice to consumers on navigating their own mask purchases.

They caution us to remember – N95 and KN95 are not the same thing.

N95 masks have multiple layers of protection and they’re approved and certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

“That’s on the mask itself,” explained Kelly Carothers, director of government affairs for Project N95. “So it’ll always have the manufacturer name, NIOSH written on it, the model and a TC number which is the number given to the manufacturer from NIOSH.”

Another tell that it’s a real N95?

The mask has a head strap, not ear loops.

“Look for those head straps. If you see a mask that doesn’t have head straps that says N95 on it? Don’t buy it. Red flag,” Carothers said.

KN95s are manufactured in China, adhere to Chinese standards and are not NIOSH certified or regulated at all in the U.S.

We did not, which means it’s likely a fake, one of the 60% the CDC warns about.

One more thing to look for, experts say if a product online has typos, bad grammar or specifically claims to be “legitimate” in the listing – it’s probably fake.

Project N95 has a lot of great resources for you to navigate legit masks.

Is N95 mask reusable washable?

These masks are available in multiple colours and are primarily made of non-woven fabric to ensure proper protection when you are stepping out of your home. Though these masks are reusable and washable, they will retain their original shape for a long time.

How can I clean my N95 mask at home?

Then there are the methods that may get rid of or inactivate the virus but can damage the mask. These include putting the mask in an autoclave or microwave oven, applying dry heat, washing the mask with soap, or wiping it with isopropyl alcohol, bleach, or disinfectant wipes.

How do I know if I have a N95 mask?

N95 or KN95 masks should not have decorative fabric or add ons. The mask should have head bands and not ear loops. If the mask has no markings, it is likely fake. Inspect the sale listing for typos, bad grammar and whether or not it takes you to the company websites.

Can I reuse an N95 mask?

Respirators are used that have reached the manufacturer-designated shelf life but have not been evaluated by NIOSH. With limited reuse, an N95 FFRs is donned for one patient contact, then doffed and stored before being used for another patient contact for a limited number of donnings.