You can get free N95 masks (+ COVID tests) delivered to your door in Charlotte. Here’s how
As COVID cases surge in North Carolina, a Charlotte group is distributing free N95 masks for those who want to protect themselves against the virus.
CLT Mask Bloc, a nonprofit organization dedicated to distributing free masks, says their goal is to “provide respiratory protection to all who need and want it, especially when the resources we expect support from fail us.”
COVID case counts are the highest they’ve been in a year, Dr. David Weber, an infectious disease specialist at the UNC School of Medicine, told The Charlotte Observer last week.
“We have increases in cases, hospitalizations, deaths countrywide, including here in North Carolina. Our hospital, the UNC Medical Center, is running 25 to 30 patients a day with with COVID,” he said.
Though cases are on the rise, wearing masks can help slow the spread of COVID, according to Mayo Clinic.
Here’s how to get free N95 masks (and COVID tests) in Charlotte and who should be wearing them.
How to get free N95 masks in Charlotte
Charlotte residents can fill out a Google form on the CLT Mask Bloc website.
▪ The form requires you to enter your name, contact information, the general area you reside in, your preferred delivery method (home delivery or no contact pickup) and the number of people you need masks for.
▪ You can pick from four types of masks: 3M Aura 9205, 3M VFlex 1804, 3M KN95 9501 bifold and Jackson Safety Duckbill N95. N95 masks offer the “highest level of protection” against COVID, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
▪ The form also requires you to enter your home address or desired meeting spot, preferred dates and times for delivery and whether your need is urgent.
▪ The group has been distributing free COVID tests with each mask request, but since they come from county health departments, there is no guarantee that tests will be included in every order, a spokesperson for the group told the Observer.
Learn more at cltmaskbloc.org.
Who should wear a mask?
The CDC says you should wear a mask in indoor public places to protect yourself against COVID if you are:
Not fully vaccinated
Fully vaccinated and in an area with substantial or high transmission
Fully vaccinated with a weakened immune system
Masks are generally not required in outdoor settings, but you should consider wearing one in areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases or for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.
This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 3:06 PM with the headline "You can get free N95 masks (+ COVID tests) delivered to your door in Charlotte. Here’s how."
