Where can I find N95 or KN95 in Philadelphia?

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This is one of the most frequently asked questions that we received as a company.  In pre-pandemic times, you could walk into a medical supply store in Philadelphia to find surgical N95s.  Or you could walk into any hardware stores in Philadelphia to find NIOSH N95s.  Now it has become like a treasure hunt depending on your city.  Well let us help you find it in your city.  Using data scraping and web automation tools, we’ll search and update this page with stores that offer N95 or KN95 in your city.  We can’t guarantee that it is quality, but we can tell you that you might be able to buy it if you walk into a store.

A History of COVID-19 in Philadelphia

 

by Shana Scott

According to Wikipedia, the COVID-19 pandemic has been more deadly than seasonal influenza, over 100 times more deadly, in Philadelphia. While more than one researcher has proven that the novel coronavirus COVID-19 is more contagious than the common flu, we are still left questioning how in such modern times, a pandemic could occur and cause so much death. 

The First Case of COVID-19 in Philadelphia

 

Officials reported the first case of COVID-19 in Philadelphia on March 10, 2020. News outlets released information stating that the infected person was an adult who had confirmed exposure to other positive cases of COVID-19.

While the virus was becoming more and better known throughout the world, officials remained relaxed on procedures to ensure the spread of COVID-19 in Philadelphia was limited.

The first death related to COVID-19 in Philadelphia was announced on March 25, 2020. It was reported that COVID-19 had taken the life of a man in his 50’s with underlying health issues. At this time, of 342 positive cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia, 37 were already related to health care workers.

Officials were still stating that the risk of contracting COVID-19 in Philadelphia was low.

 

Government Response to COVID-19 in Philadelphia

 

While officials maintained an air of calmness in response to the pandemic, they began to take measures early on to slow the spread. At the point of announcement regarding the first case of COVID-19 in Philadelphia, large events were not yet canceled. Yet, just hours later, the city would confirm the cancellation of the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. There were 17 cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia being investigated by the Philadelphia Health Department.

On March 16, a ban went into place in regards to restaurants and bars in heavily populated areas, including Philadelphia, by order of Governor Tom Wolf.  All restaurants and bars in specified areas were to close for dine-in services for 14 days.

Due to COVID-19 in Philadelphia, a stay-at-home order was issued on March 23, 2020. Mayor Kenney felt that residents were not taking his suggestions seriously and quoted that he wanted “to ramp up the level of concern so people will get it in their heads that this is a serious epidemic and they need to stay home.” Only essential businesses were allowed to remain open.

Under Philadelphia’s stay-at-home order, all public gatherings were prohibited regardless of size. On April 3, Gov. Wolf put out notices requesting that all residents wear cloth face coverings in public.

Mayor Jim Kenney was quoted saying, “We think we’re in a spot where we can handle what’s coming,” in response to the status of available ventilators and hospital beds on April 11, 2020. The reports stated that at this time nearly 45 percent of hospital beds, 70 percent of ventilators, and 38 percent of ICU beds were available.

However, 8 days later, news outlets would release photos of health care workers stepping on top of a pile of deceased bodies to load them into a refrigerated truck. Philadelphia had recorded 394 deaths related to COVID-19 at this point and the hospitals claimed they were running out of space to store the bodies.

Philadelphia began to reopen the city as of June 5, 2020. On June 12, restaurants were allowed to serve customers for outdoor dining areas. However, as the city slowly began to lift restrictions, the cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia also began to rise.

In early July, Mayor Kenney would announce that the ban on public events of more than 50 people would remain in place until February 2021. In November as cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia continued to rise, new restrictions would again be placed on indoor dining, public gatherings, public venues such as museums and bowling alleys as well as schools. While many places were ordered to remain closed, others were no longer allowed to allow indoor services or needed to decrease the number of people they catered to at a time. These new restrictions would remain in place through the New Year.

 

PPE Shortages in Philadelphia

 

As early as the end of March, city officials put out notices that there was a serious shortage of PPE in response to COVID-19 in Philadelphia. They went as far as asking for donations of surgical masks, N95 masks, and isolation gowns. By the time the city would report its first death related to COVID-19, 37 health care workers had already contracted the virus.

By April 14, the city of Philadelphia had placed orders totaling more than $6 million worth of various PPE. However, only one-fourth of the orders had been delivered by the end of May. There were further reports of missing orders, while definite evidence of price gorging was seen.

The Philadelphia Public Health Twitter page further asked for donations on May 23, 2020. It was clear that city officials were not hiding the desperate need for PPE that the health workers had. Philadelphia hospital Einstein was listed as one in need of donations of N95 masks.

 

Counterfeit N95 masks

 

Tower Health in Philadelphia was among one hospital that received counterfeit N95 masks. As concern for shortages of PPE increases, the criminal enterprise has jumped aboard the bandwagon.

Reports of counterfeit PPE began coming in as quickly as the need for PPE rose. Health care workers were no longer just concerned if they had enough PPE but if what they had was working.

In early February 2021, the FBI was investigating a massive counterfeit N95 mask operation. Since then more than 10 million fraudulent masks have been seized.

 

COVID-19 in Philadelphia

 

On January 15, 2021, officials announced the first case of the new B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 in Philadelphia. A female in her 50’s was confirmed as the patient.

As of February 15, 2021, Philadelphia had surpassed 116,000 positive cases of COVID-19 and more than 2900 deaths. Are officials ready for the new variant and have the PPE woes waned?

 

 

Potential KN95 or N95 in your city.

Home Improvement:

https://www.homedepot.com/

Home Depot sells HDX N95 respirator for 10 pieces/$17.97 which places each piece per mask at $1.80 per piece.  This is a good price for an N95. This is a private label Makrite respirator which unfortunately has a history of counterfeit. 

Home Depot sells Makrite Sekura Flat Fold N95 respirator for 8 pieces/$12.97 which places each piece per mask at $1.62 per piece.  This is a good price for an N95. This is a Makrite respirator which unfortunately has a history of counterfeit.  

 

https://www.lowes.com/

Lowes sells KN95 made by Xam-Med for 10 pieces/$12.49 which places each piece per mask at $1.24 per piece.  This is not an FDA authorized KN95 and the quality is not known. 

Lowes sells N95 made by Dasheng for 5 pieces/$7.49 which places each piece per mask at $1.49 per piece.  This is a good price for an N95. This is a Dasheng respirator which unfortunately has a history of counterfeit.  

 

https://www.truevalue.com/

TrueValue sells KN95 made by Devon Medical for 5 pieces/$39.99 which places each piece per mask at $7.99 per piece.  This is not an FDA authorized KN95 and the quality is not known.  Also, TrueValue does NOT show in store availability.

TrueValue sells KN95 made by Co-win Group Limited for 10 pieces/$28.99 which places each piece per mask at $2.89 per piece.  This is not an FDA authorized KN95 and the quality is not known.  Also, TrueValue does NOT show in store availability.

 

https://www.acehardware.com/

Ace sells KN95 made by World Tech for 2 pieces/$2.79 which places piece per mask cost at $1.40 per piece.  This is not an FDA authorized KN95 and the quality is not known.  Also, Ace does NOT show in store availability.

Ace also sells KN95 made by Makrite for  2 pieces/$2.79 which places each piece per mask at $1.40 per piece.  This is not an FDA authorized KN95 and the quality is not known.  However, Makrite is a well known brand in the respirator industry.  Unfortunately, Makrite has been plagued by counterfeit respirators recently.  Also, Ace does NOT show in store availability.

Pharmacies:

Most large chain pharmacies do not list their KN95 or N95 availability.  There have been internet rumors about availability in these stores, but we cannot verify this in your city.

https://www.riteaid.com/

https://www.walgreens.com/

https://www.cvs.com/

 

Many smaller chain pharmacies and medical supplies stores will commonly carry KN95.  Most of the brands are NOT FDA authorized and we recommend caution from using them as healthcare workers.  

 

Home Depot	Instock
Lowes	Instock
Ace Hardware	Data Unavailable
True Value	Data Unavailable
Rite Aid	Data Unavailable
Walgreen	Data Unavailable
CVS	Data Unavailable
Local Pharmacy or medical supply	Call to ask

 

Our Link is Recommended by Past US Assistant Surgeon General