Delaware is not currently among the states distributing N95 masks to residents, as the omicron variant continues to surge.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Thursday that his state’s Health Department will distribute 20 million N95 and KN95 masks to residents next week. The neighboring state does not have a mask mandate.
This announcement came just after President Joe Biden announced earlier in the day that the White House will make “high-quality masks” available to Americans at no cost. Connecticut and the city of New Orleans have also provided N95 masks to residents.
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With the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant, public health officials are urging people to wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus. Gov. John Carney announced this week that the state was reinstating its indoor mask mandate for most public spaces.
Delaware is in the midst of its worst fight against the pandemic as an onslaught of COVID-19 hospitalizations have resulted in a serious strain on Delaware hospitals, forcing many to enter into crisis mode.
In a COVID-19 briefing, Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the Delaware Division of Public Health, urged Delawareans this week to wear masks that have multiple layers, specifically one that fits snuggly on the face because the omicron variant is so transmissible.
MASK MANDATE:Delaware requires masks in most public indoor settings
For those wanting to wear cloth masks, Rattay said they need to have multiple layers and they need to fit tightly. She said KN95 and N95 masks are OK. These types of masks tend to be more expensive than surgical or cloth masks.
A spokesman said in a statement Wednesday that the health department is not “currently distributing masks to the public.” Health officials are encouraging the “preservation of N95 masks for health care workers.”
Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 256-2466 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MereNewman.
