Nordstrom is now offering face masks in an effort to help address the growing shortage of protective gear in the U.S. The company sells it for $4 a piece and promises to donate masks to people in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The country saw a significant increase in the demand for face masks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that people always wear facial coverings when going out. But over the past weeks suppliers have been reporting limited stocks.
That is why health authorities called on the public to use washable masks and other materials to cover their faces. They said medical grade face masks should go to health workers and patients since they have higher risk of catching the novel coronavirus.
“The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators,” CDC said on its website. “Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.”
Nordstrom’s new face mask uses reusable fabric that users can regularly wash and use. The materials used are machine washable and dryer-friendly.
The double-ply, 100 percent cotton mask also comes affordable since a pack of six masks costs only $24. Some retailers sell a single mask for the same price, InStyle reported Tuesday.
The product is available in black, white or a mix of the two. Nordstrom made the mask fit to most adults, with a pleated front that expands over the mouth and nose.
The company said it will donate a mask to an individual in need of protective gear per pack purchased.
CDC said people should wear face coverings “in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.” These areas include grocery stores, pharmacies and clinics.
Use of face masks may help “slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others,” the agency said. The material reduces the risk of catching coronavirus-carrying droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
