The US government will distribute 400 million free non-surgical N95 masks from its strategic national stock to the public next week. N95 face masks will be shipped to pharmacies and community health centres by this week.
The move comes after President Joe Biden and his team faced criticism for not tackling the Omicron variant as the recent wave hit the country, and hospitalisations also hit a new record.

The government also made free rapid home tests available through a website. This is the most extensive distribution of personal protective equipment in the US. N95 masks form a seal around the nose and mouth and are considered effective at preventing Covid-19 virus spread.