MILWAUKEE — As the omicron variant continues to surge across the United States, more and more Wisconsinites are looking to get their hands on N95 and KN95 face masks.

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance on masks, noting that N95 and KN95 masks offer some of the strongest protection against COVID-19. Since then, local governments and the federal government have made efforts to provide free masks for citizens; the state of Wisconsin has distributed more than 5.4 million N95 masks since the beginning of the year.

Find locations that are giving out free masks throughout Wisconsin below.

Milwaukee

North Shore residents can pick up N95 face masks at area libraries on Tuesday, Jan. 25. There are three masks per person and it is first come, first serve. 

These libraries include:

• Brown Deer Library (4301 W. Brown Deer Rd)

• North Shore Library (6800 N. Port Wash Rd)

• Shorewood Library (3920 N. Murray Ave)

• Whitefish Bay Library (5420 N. Marlborough Rd)
  
  

For additional details, visit the specific library’s websites or Facebook pages.

The City of West Allis is distributing N95 masks to West Allis and western Milwaukee residents throughout the week. There is a limit of 10 masks per person and there will be 5,000 available masks each day.

Masks will be available the following days and times:

Jan. 26 - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Building next to West Allis Health Department, inside the old Aurora Clinic (7220 W. National Ave)

Jan. 28 - 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• West Allis West Milwaukee Recreation Center (2450 S. 68th St.)

• Look for orange West Allis trailer in parking lot

Jan. 29 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• West Allis Farmers Market (6501 W. National Ave)

• Look for orange West Allis trailer near parking lot

The Oak Creek Public Library kicked off its N95 mask distribution on Tuesday. Community members can pick them up from the first floor service desk from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The masks are first come, first serve.

For additional information on free mask distribution around Milwaukee, visit https://city.milwaukee.gov/coronavirus/masks.

Madison

The Boys & Girls Club of Dane County will distribute another round of KN95 masks this week. Visit McKenzie Family Center, 232 Windsor St. in Sun Prairie from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday.Madison-area nonprofit organizations can also request up to 250 masks by emailing maskrequests@bgcdc.org. Nonprofits can also request masks by emailing coronavirus@publichealthmdc.com.

More details can be found at https://www.bgcdc.org/masks.

Across Wisconsin

President Joe Biden’s administration began its rollout of 400 million free N95 masks to the public this week, with many pharmacies already handing them out now.

Gov. Tony Evers previously announced that major pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS have already begun to distribute these masks at various Wisconsin locations.

Grocery chain Meijer also recently announced it received an estimated three million N95 masks to give out at locations across the Midwest. The N95 masks will be in boxes set on a table near the Meijer Greeter stand of the grocery entrance.

Those interested in receiving the free N95 masks can contact their local participating pharmacies to check for availability.

This story will be updated.