Allison Johnson
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on April 2, 2020. It was updated on April 8, 2020, after the CDC officially recommended the use of cloth face masks on April 3, 2020.
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Home Depot has put an end to N95 masks sales at their stores and website. If you visit their site, each mask is marked as ‘out of stock online’ or ‘not sold in stores.’ Home Depot decided to cease the sales of N95 masks so they can donate them to healthcare providers.
It’s no surprise that the coronavirus pandemic has caused a spike in N95 masks. At this point, many would agree that the heroes on the frontline of COVID-19 need N95 respirator face masks more than individuals who are not first responders or healthcare workers.
The stop-sale will help 3M get respirator masks to people who need them most. The Home Depot is not the first retail store to stop the sales of N95 masks. Last month, Target stopped selling them in stores. The 3M 8511 disposable respirators cannot be bought on Amazon. Only hospitals and government agencies can order them. Amazon will not be restocking them for personal use, but you can still find alternatives to personal protective equipment. (PPE).
Many people leaving their homes for work still find masks and sanitization products to be deemed as essential needs. You can take precaution still, with homemade face masks.
The CDC states on its website, “Wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”
“CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.”
For more information, visit cdc.gov.
