Biden administration to distribute more than 25 million masks

The White House announced Wednesday it will provide more than 25 million face masks to community health centers, food pantries, and soup kitchens this spring as part of its efforts to fight COVID-19. Health officials recommend wearing a mask as a key step to help stem the spread of the disease. According to the White House, the government will deliver the masks to more than 1,300 community health centers and 60,000 food pantries and soup kitchens between March and May, aiming to reach between 12 million and 15 million people. In its statement, the White House noted that two-thirds of the people served by community health centers live in poverty, 60% are racial and/or ethnic minorities, and nearly 1.4 million are homeless. “These masks will be no cost, high-quality, washable, and consistent with the mask guidance from the CDC,” the White House said.