TN to hand out 5 million free masks to any resident who wants one

[Tanuki]

Free no-touch thermometers will also be offered to small businesses.

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/state-to-give-free-masks-to-all-tennesseans-thermometers-available-for-businesses-to-order

"Governor Lee announced the state will be giving free cloth masks to any Tennessean who wants one. Small businesses will also be able to order no-touch thermometers in order to help them safely reopen.

Governor Lee recently lifted his "Safer-at-Home" order, but strongly encouraged everyone to adhere to the CDC's guidelines of wearing masks and continuing to social distance as much as possible.

The state has partnered with Renfro Corporation to secure more than 5 million cloth masks, which will be distributed to all 95 health departments in the state beginning this week. They will be given out free of charge to all Tennesseans."...(more)

[2naSalit]

1. They have so many and nobody was stealing

their PPE enroute to the state and now they have enough to hand out to even the GP. Imagine that.

[Tanuki]

2. No, these are not medical-grade PPE. As it says in the OP, they are cloth masks.

They aren't N95 respirators or surgical masks. A local sock manufacturer decided to shift production to make cotton masks for general consumers. More from another news source:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.tennessean.com/amp/3086625001

.. "The state has entered an agreement with Renfro Corp., a North Carolina-based international sock distributor, to "make cloth face masks available to as many Tennesseans as possible," according to a statement from the governor's office.
.....
Renfro Corp. has a Tennessee manufacturing and distribution facility in Cleveland. The company is expected to continue making masks for the state beyond this first wave of production.
.....

In a statement, Renfro president and CEO Stan Jewell said the sock company realized in March its "design and manufacturing expertise could be used to provide millions of face masks to communities to help reduce the spread of COVID19."...(more)

[TreadSoftly]

3. I got one -- comfortable mask -- very nice

It's black stretch cotton with two straps. There is extra room for one's nose and mouth. Getting it was easy if you don't work -- just drive up to health department, phone them and they come out to the car.

My coworker sniffed at it, says she could see through it and declared it unfit. I think for most droplets this one should protect just fine for grocery shopping. Her own homemade mask is gingham but I think my gov't-handout doesn't have gaps around face like hers.

What would life be like without arguments? Sigh.

[Tanuki]

4. Thanks for the info, and a belated welcome to DU!