Biden administration to send millions of free masks to stem spread of COVID-19

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration plans to send 25 million reusable cloth masks directly to community health centers and food banks to protect the communities hardest hit by COVID-19 from rapidly spreading the virus and increasing the likelihood of mutations.

“One of the most impactful things we can do is wear a mask, and this is so important during this critical period where cases are declining, but variants that spread more easily are increasing throughout the country,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said.

The masks will go to 1,300 community health centers and 60,000 food pantries and soup kitchens across the country. The masks are expected to reach an estimated 12 million to 15 million Americans. COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said the program will cost $86 million and will not impact the delivery of masks to health care workers.

White House public health officials stressed that the country is at an inflection point when it comes to COVID-19. Cases and infection rates are dropping as vaccine distribution ramps up, but emerging, highly contagious virus variants threaten to thwart the nation’s progress.

Scientists have already discovered several COVID-19 variants in the United States and have said the B.1.1.7 variant from the United Kingdom could be the dominant virus strain in this country by March. Normal virus mitigation efforts, such as masking and distancing, can help slow the spread of these highly transmissible variants.

Meanwhile, the federal government plans to increase the U.S. supply of vaccines to states and pharmacies.

States should receive 14.5 million vaccine doses this week, up from 13.5 million last week, Zients said. This marks a 70% supply increase to states during the Biden-Harris administration. The administration will provide another 2.1 million doses directly to pharmacies.

Last week, the administration experienced weather-related shipping delays due to severe weather, but at this point, officials say they have completely caught up on shipments to states.

The administration’s task force encouraged states to work around the clock and on the weekends and said the federal government could help provide backup if needed.