The distribution of free N95 masks for Americans has begun, the Biden administration said Monday.
"Last week, masks began shipping and arriving at pharmacies and grocers around [the] country. We expect that throughout the week the number of stores and N95s arriving to scale up significantly," an administration official told CNN.
Masks already are set up for distribution at some Hy-Vee and Meijer grocery stores in the Midwest, with more coming at Southeastern Grocers stores later this week, CNN reports.
"I can confirm that we began receiving and distributing our first shipments of N95 masks from HHS on Friday, Jan. 21," Hy-Vee spokeswoman Christina Gaymen told CNN. "At this time, many Hy-Vee pharmacy locations have received and are distributing their mask allocations. We have received many positive comments from customers who are happy we have the masks and are distributing them so quickly. We still have masks available at all locations that have received them so far."
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The administration announced last week that the program to distribute 400 million free masks to pharmacies and community health centers is expected to be in full swing by early February.
The masks are accompanied by flyers in both English and Spanish from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Mask up and maximize your protection," to "help slow the spread of COVID by protecting yourself and those around you," the flyer states.
Every person can have up to three free masks that include a QR code with instructions on the proper use of the masks, as well as a link on mask usage from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Where can you find free N95 masks?
The masks will be available at a number of local pharmacies and community health centers, a White House official told CNN.
Participating pharmacies include Hy-Vee, Meijer, CVS, Walgreens and Kroger.
Some of the first masks arrived in the Midwest on Friday, including at Hy-Vee grocery stores in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Nebraska and at Meijer stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
Masks also are expected to start arriving at Southeastern Grocers locations as early as Friday, and they'll be available at Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie in-store pharmacies.
CVS and Walgreens are also expected to receive masks.
CVS pharmacies should receive and begin distributing free N95 masks in the coming weeks once the supply from the federal government comes in, spokesman Matt Blanchette told CNN on Monday.
Meanwhile, Walgreens expects to have free N95 masks available at some locations starting Friday, according to a company spokesperson.
"We are pleased to partner with the Administration to make N95 masks in varying sizes available free of charge at participating Walgreens locations while supplies last," a Walgreens spokesperson wrote in an email to CNN on Monday.
Kroger shoppers will also be able to find free N95 masks in stores with pharmacies, according to a company statement Monday.
The free masks -- from the Strategic National Stockpile -- will also start arriving at about 100 to 200 community health centers in the initial phase, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.
By mid-Feburary, the agency anticipates that the masks will be available to all health centers, Amy Simmons Farber, a spokesperson for the National Association of Community Health Centers, told CNN.
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The masks are being delivered just as the first round of free COVID tests are arriving in the mail for many Americans.
