With Covid-19 cases increasing due to Omicron, it is essential to continue taking precautions. Masks are an effective way to protect yourself and those around you. It has been determined that the N95 masks are optimal in preventing the Covid-19 spread. Fortunately, Walgreens, Wegmans, CVS, and Walmart in the area now provide free N95 masks at participating stores in the U.S, including D.C. 

There are also pharmacies which provide these face coverings. These include: 

• Costco
• CVS Pharmacy
• H-E-B
• Kroger
• Harris Teeter
• Publix Super Markets, Inc.
• Food Lion
• Giant Food
• Rite Aid Corp.
• Winn-Dixie
• ShopRite
• Wegmans

The stores that participate in this will have signage indicating their mask availability. “400 million masks will be made available to Americans,” says The White House. The goal of this is to slow the spread of Covid-19 and supply easy access to masks that have been proven successful. The CDC made an update with the face covering policy as of January 14. This states that “N95 and KN95 masks offer the most protection against Covid-19, but it stopped short of recommending them over cloth masks.”