Many stores expect to offer free government-issued N95 masks this week
CBSN
White House officials pledged last week to make 400 million certified N95 masks available to Americans for free in an effort to shore up the nation's defenses against COVID-19. But consumers may have to shop around to get their hands on one.
Major pharmacy chains said they expect to start distributing the free face coverings this week. The effort comes as public health experts encourage the use of higher quality masks, including N95 respirators.
Well-fitted N95 mask filter 95% of airborne particles, and KN95 masks offer a similar level of protection. Cloth masks, or any covering that does not fit properly, offer far less protection against COVID-19.
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It's Christmas Eve, and Santa Claus is suiting up for his annual voyage from the North Pole to households around the world. In keeping with decades of tradition, the North American Aerospace Command, or NORAD, will once again track Santa's journey to deliver gifts to children before Christmas 2024, using an official map that's updated consistently to show where he is right now.
An anti-money laundering law called the Corporate Transparency Act, or CTA, appears to have been given new life after an appeals court on Monday determined its rules can be enforced as the case proceeds. The law requires small business owners to register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, by Jan. 1, or potentially pay fines of up to $10,000.