Virus update: Federal agents have seized more than 10 million fake 3M brand N95 masks in recent weeks, the U.S. is scrambling to expand DNA mapping of coronavirus samples and
US seizes over 10 million phony N95 masks in COVID-19 probe
By COLLEEN LONG The Associated Press,Updated February 17, 2021, 7:24 p.m.
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A counterfeit N95 surgical mask that was seized.U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT/NYT
WASHINGTON â Federal agents have seized more than 10 million fake 3M brand N95 masks in recent weeks, the result of an ongoing investigation into counterfeits sold in at least five states to hospitals, medical facilities, and government agencies.
The most recent seizures occurred Wednesday when Homeland Security agents intercepted hundreds of thousands of counterfeit 3M masks in an East Coast warehouse that were set to be distributed, officials said.
US authorities fear that about 6,000 frontline health workers have been using knockoff face masks that "have no utility whatsoever", according to Homeland Security, potentially exposing them to the coronavirus.