Joe Biden's administration announced on Wednesday that it would distribute 25 million free masks to Americans starting in March in order to fight Covid-19, according to a White House statement.
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The masks will be distributed "
throughout the country (...) and available in more than 1,300 local health clinics and 60,000 food banks,
" she said.
Two-thirds of those treated in these clinics live in poverty, she adds.
They will be encouraged to bring a set of two masks per person.
They will be made of fabric, washable and of "
high quality
", according to a statement.
"
Although masks are widely available (...), many Americans still lack access to this basic protection
," said at a press conference Jeff Zients, the coordinator of the fight against the Covid -19 from the US executive.
"
With this action, we are helping to ensure an equitable situation, by giving vulnerable populations quality and well-fitting masks
," he says.
The cost of this measure is $ 86 million, he says.
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The mask issue in the United States had been heavily politicized under the Trump administration, with the Republican president rarely appearing in public with a mask.
When he took office, Democrat Joe Biden called on Americans to wear them for 100 days.
He also imposed his port in federal buildings.
The various measures to fight Covid-19 are widely taken locally in the United States, and several states have recently lifted the authorization to take them in the face of improving the health situation.
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