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Wake County restocking free N95 masks on Tuesday

Wake County is distributing free N95 masks, but supply is limited.

Posted Updated

By
Nia Harden
, WRAL reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — Wake County Health and Human Services will be replenishing N95 mask distribution sites on Tuesday. The masks will be available Monday through Friday while supplies last.

In a week, the health department said nearly 130,000 N95 masks have been distributed.

"The demand for these masks has been extremely high and we know they are going to go fast," said Dr. Nichole Mushonga, the associate medical director and epidemiology program director.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidance, saying N95 and KN95 masks provide the best protection, and the Biden administration has also promised to give away masks from the country's emergency stockpile.

N95 masks provide more protection than a cloth or surgical mask, experts say, and they can be worn five days in a row. After a few days of use, store the mask in a brown paper bag to allow moisture to evaporate.

Wake County masks

Wake County Public Health has expanded locations where residents can get free N95 masks and restocked supplies at two sites where masks ran out last week.

The masks, which are provided by the state Department of Health and Human Services, are available for pickup Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. through 5:15 p.m. (unless another time is specified) at these locations:

  • Western Health & Human Services Center at 111 James Jackson Avenue in Cary, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Wake County Southern Regional Center at 130 N. Judd Parkway NE in Fuquay-Varina, 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
  • Wake County Northern Regional Center at 350 E. Holding Avenue in Wake Forest, 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
  • Wake County Eastern Regional Center at 1002 Dogwood Drive in Zebulon, 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
  • Wake County Human Services Center at 5809 Departure Drive in Raleigh, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Wake County Health & Human Services Center at 10 Sunnybrook Road in Raleigh, 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

The masks are in such high demand that two of the sites ran out of masks in the first several hours on the first day Wake County began the giveaway. Those locations have been restocked, and two new sites -- the Western Health & Human Services Center and Wake County Human Services Center -- have been added.

At each location, residents will need to enter the building and pick up the masks at the information desks. Masks will also be distributed at testing sites and vaccination clinics for those who have an appointment for those services.

People will be able to pick up a mask for everyone in their household.

Masks will also be given to community partners and organizations in high risk and underserved populations.

Over 200,000 masks were given to Wake County, officials said.

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