In the continuing effort to combat the pandemic and limit the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. government is distributing 400 million N95 masks for FREE around the country.
Health officials are highlighting that the masks offer better protection than cloth face coverings or surgical masks against the virus.
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The masks will be supplied from the government’s Strategic National Stockpile, which has more than 750 million of the highly protective masks in stock.
The masks are scheduled to be available to the public starting sometime during the week of Jan. 24. The masks will be distributed through community health centers, pharmacies and other public venues nationwide. As always, it might be wise to call ahead to confirm availability.
More information is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s site, including a state-by-state breakdown of participating pharmacies.
Here’s the full national list of participating pharmacies where you can pick up masks:
Limit three (3) masks per person.
NOTE: Retail pharmacies participating in the program will vary by state and territory.
Albertsons Companies, Inc. (including Osco, Jewel-Osco, Albertsons, Albertsons Market, Safeway, Tom Thumb, Star Market, Shaw’s, Haggen, Acme, Randalls, Carrs, Market Street, United, Vons, Pavilions, Amigos, Lucky’s, Pak n Save, Sav-On)
Costco Wholesale Corp.
CPESN USA, LLC
CVS Pharmacy, Inc. (including Long’s)
GeriMed (long-term care and retail pharmacies)
Good Neighbor Pharmacy and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation’s pharmacy services administrative organization (PSAO), Elevate Provider Network
Health Mart Pharmacies
H-E-B, LP
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Innovatix (long-term care pharmacies)
Kroger Co. (including Kroger, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Ralphs, King Soopers, Smiths, City Market, Dillons, Mariano’s, Pick-n-Save, Copps, Metro Market, QFC)
LeaderNET and The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, Cardinal Health PSAOs
Managed Health Care Associates (retail and long-term care pharmacies)
Meijer, Inc.
Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Retail Business Services, LLC (including Food Lion, Giant Food, The Giant Company, Hannaford Bros Co, Stop & Shop)
Rite Aid Corp.
Southeastern Grocers (Winn-Dixie, Harveys, Fresco Y Mas)
Topco Associates, LLC (including Acme Fresh Markets, Associated Food Stores, Bashas, Big-Y Pharmacy and Wellness Center, Brookshire’s Pharmacy, Super One Pharmacy, FRESH by Brookshire’s Pharmacy, Coborn’s Pharmacy, Cash Wise Pharmacy, MarketPlace Pharmacy, Giant Eagle, Hartig Drug Company, King Kullen, Food City Pharmacy, Ingles Pharmacy, Raley’s, Bel Air, Nob Hill Pharmacies, Save Mart Pharmacies, Lucky Pharmacies, SpartanNash, Price Chopper, Market 32, Tops Friendly Markets, ShopRite, Wegmans, Weis Markets, Inc.)
Walgreens (including Duane Reade)
Walmart, Inc. (including Sam’s Club)
The Biden administration has also rolled out a program to provide four totally FREE at-home COVID test kits to each household in the U.S. Find out more in our post.
