COLUMBUS — Ohio is receiving 9 million face masks beginning this week, for public distribution and at no cost, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency said.
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The shipments are going to the Ohio EMA in cooperation with Gov. Mike DeWine’s office, the Ohio Departments of Education, Health, and Job and Family Services.
FEMA donated the additional masks to the state as part of a new FEMA Mask Program. The agency provided an initial 2 million face masks for Ohio school districts in early August.
This new shipment will be shared this way:
• 4 million to the Ohio Department of Education for all schools (public, private, charter, parochial, and career centers);
• 144,000 to Jobs & Family Services for daycare providers;
• 2 million to programs and organizations that serve vulnerable populations;
• 1 million to the state department of Higher Education
The remainder will be stored until needed. The identified partners will assist in distribution.
Just like the first shipment in August, these masks are also KN-95s, non-medical grade face masks, according to FEMA and Ohio EMA.
“We’ll be able to provide needed masks to not only Ohio grade schools and colleges, but to so many more of our partners and stakeholders,” Ohio EMA Executive Director Sima Merick said in a prepared statement Tuesday evening.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria said, “some schools already have reopened and this infusion of masks will go a long way toward helping protect everyone involved in the process. These masks will help to ensure healthy practices and position schools to have a safe start to the new academic year.”
Ohio must continue to focus on the most vulnerable and make sure they have the resources they need to prevent and respond to disease, said Interim Director of Lance Himes, Ohio Department of Health.
“Masks have proven to be a lifesaving tool, one that must be made available to everyone, regardless of income, age, race, ethnicity, or background. I am grateful that both the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Ohio EMA recognize the importance of helping us protect each and every Ohioan from the devastating effects of COVID-19. Such priorities help make our communities stronger, ease hardship, and move us toward our goal of ensuring that no one is left behind.”
“We are extremely grateful that these masks will be provided at no cost to Ohio child care providers,” said Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Kimberly Hall.
FEMA is delivering half of the shipment to Ohio this week.