50K KN95 Masks To Be Given Away Free In Greater Morristown

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ — Looking for some added protection? Local nonprofit POWER CHANGES LIVES INC will lead the distribution of tens of thousands free KN95 masks in Morris Plains.

The "50,000 FREE KN95 Mask Giveaway" takes place from 4-7 p.m. Monday at the Morris Plains Community Center (51 Jim Fear Dr.). Each household can reserve up to 50 KN95 masks, and organizations with valid tax ID can receive up to 500.

Registration is required to ensure supplies get evenly distributed — first registered, first served. Organizers will accept walk-ins if there are any masks left after reservations have been fulfilled.

Click here to register to receive masks.

POWER CHANGES LIVES INC thanked Morris Plains Mayor Jason Karr for his continued support of the nonprofit.

KN95 masks are the most widely available with respirators that meet international standards. As recently as October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said many stronger face coverings — including surgical-grade masks and N95 respirators — should be reserved for health care personnel.

But federal officials shifted their guidance amid the omicron-variant surge and recommended wearing something stronger than cloth masks.

"Right now, there doesn't seem to be any shortage of the masks that were some time ago were not available," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden's top coronavirus advisor. "If you can tolerate an N95, do it. If you want to get a KN95, fine."

But stronger masks aren't always easy to find. The CDC even warned last month that 60 percent of KN95 respirators in the United States are counterfeit and don't meet requirements from the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health.

Asked Wednesday about making high-quality masks more accessible, White House COVID-19 Response Team Coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters that the Biden administration is "strongly considering options right now to make high-quality masks available to all Americans," but he did not go into detail about those options.

Fauci added that a cloth mask still adds more protection than no mask at all.

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