Free N95 Masks at Montgomery County Libraries Beginning Friday, Jan. 21

Montgomery County residents can pick up free, adult-sized N95 masks at 19 Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) branches beginning Friday, Jan. 21. On Friday, Jan. 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the mask guidance to emphasize protection to prevent the spread of COVID-19. N-95, KN-95 and KF-94 respirators are masks that have been shown to provide higher levels of protection against COVID-19. Along with getting vaccinated and boosted, wearing a well-fitting mask over your nose and mouth in indoor public settings or in crowds is important to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

“A key element that helps reduce community transmission is the wearing of a high-quality face covering,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We know that masks work and having these higher quality face masks as compared to simple face coverings, increases protection. We have these masks available in our stockpile because we planned. I appreciate the work of our Department of Health and Human Services, emergency management, procurement and general services teams for getting them and thank our libraries for ensuring this distribution system is effective, efficient, and equitable.”

The distribution of rapid at-home test kits will continue while supplies last.

Residents may pick up four adult-sized ZYB-11 masks (a brand of n-95 mask) at any one of 19 County libraries beginning Friday, Jan. 21. Child-size masks are not available. Supplies are limited and the masks will be available on a first come, first served basis. MCPL branches distributing masks from noon to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday are:

• Aspen Hill
• Chevy Chase
• Damascus
• Davis
• Gaithersburg
• Little Falls
• Potomac
• Silver Spring
• White Oak

MCPL branches distributing masks from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 3 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday are:

• Connie Morella (Bethesda)
• Germantown
• Kensington Park
• Long Branch
• Marilyn Praisner (Burtonsville)
• Olney
• Quince Orchard
• Rockville
• Twinbrook
• Wheaton

The masks being distributed at libraries were purchased directly by the County and deliveries will be ongoing for as long as supplies last and the Omicron surge continues. When masks are available from the State, those masks will be integrated into the distribution process.

More information about masks, testing and vaccination is available on the County’s COVID-19 website.

This is a Montgomery County, Maryland announcement.

Clematis, Kentlands Photowalk, Gaithersburg, Maryland USA IMG 6076

Canon PowerShot G11 Camera

Photograph by Roy Kelley 

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs