廣告

WH announces plan to distribute 25 million free reusable masks to Americans

At a briefing on Wednesday, White House COVID-19 response team coordinator Jeff Zients announced that the Biden administration plans to distribute 25 million masks to Americans for free through food banks and community health centers.

影片文字轉錄稿

JEFF ZIENTS: Today, we're announcing another action we're taking to ensure an equitable response. In the month of March, we will begin to deliver millions of masks to food banks and community health centers around the country. These are nation-wide networks that serve populations hit hard by the pandemic.

While masks are widely available in many different shapes and sizes, many low-income Americans still lack affordable access to this basic protection. That's why we're taking this important action to keep Americans safe. We will deliver more than 25 million masks across the country. These masks will be available at more than 1,300 community health centers and at 60,000 food pantries nationwide.

Any American who needs a mask will be able to walk into these health centers or food pantries and pick up high-quality, American-made masks. These masks will be available at no cost. They'll be well-fitting cloth masks available in children's and adult sizes, and they can be washed for reuse, all consistent with CDC guidance and all made in the USA.

Once again, our decisions here have been made with equity at the center. Not all Americans are wearing masks regularly, not all Americans have access, and not all masks are equal. With this action, we are helping to level the playing field, giving vulnerable populations quality, well-fitting masks.

When President Biden delivered his inaugural address, he made a very clear request to the country-- mask up. And he's taken action to require masks in federal buildings, on federal lands, and on public transportation, like planes, trains, and buses. The action we're announcing today is a targeted step to help Americans respond to the president's challenge to mask up to protect themselves and their fellow Americans.