Free N95 Masks Available At Walgreens, Wegmans, CVS In VA, DC

VIRGINIA — Many Virginia and DC residents are trying to stock up on N95 masks, which are deemed the most effective at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Walmart, CVS, Wegmans, Walgreens and other pharmacies began offering the masks lat last week for free at participating stores across the country.

"We are pleased to partner with the [Biden] Administration to make N95 masks in varying sizes available free of charge at participating Walgreens locations while supplies last," a spokesperson for the Illinois-based company told Patch.

Among the pharmacy companies participating in the mask distribution are:

• Albertsons
• Sav-On
• Costco
• CVS Pharmacy
• H-E-B
• Kroger
• Harris Teeter
• Publix Super Markets, Inc.
• Food Lion
• Giant Food
• Rite Aid Corp.
• Winn-Dixie
• ShopRite
• Wegmans
• Weis Markets
• Walgreens (including Duane Reade)
• Walmart (including Sam’s Club)

Find a full list of free mask giveaways on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

RELATED: White House To Distribute Free N95 Masks: Where To Get Them In VA

Walgreens said the mask distribution will continue on a rolling basis in the days and weeks ahead. Participating stores will have signage indicating mask availability.

The White House recently said 400 million N95 masks would be made available for free to all Americans. The masks are being released from the Strategic National Stockpile. In addition to pharmacies such as Walgreens, they can be picked up at local community health centers.

The nationwide N95 mask distribution is part of a wider COVID-19 response plan that included last week's rollout of a website where Americans can sign up to receive free coronavirus rapid tests, the Associated Press reported.

The CDC updated its face covering guidance Jan. 14, clearly stating that properly fitted N95 and KN95 masks offer the most protection against COVID-19, but it stopped short of recommending them over cloth masks.

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

Related:

• Youngkin Mask Order Challenged By 7 Virginia School Districts
• COVID Cases Drop 36% In Virginia As Omicron Slows
• COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics Come To 6 Prince William County Schools
• Free COVID-19 Tests In VA, DC: How To Get Them
• Optional Mask-Wearing Coming To Schools By Mid-February