Paying bills or buying masks: Simple living with COVID is hitting some Americans hard

Masks have become vital in the pandemic, but they can come at a cost.

Darrian Traynor / Darrian Traynor

As the human toll of the coronavirus continues to mount, so does the cost that comes with living during a pandemic.

Cloth and disposable surgical masks have become staples of pandemic life as many stores, restaurants and businesses require staff and customers to wear them. And many school districts around the country still have mask mandates in place.

At-home rapid tests have also become familiar as the surge of coronavirus cases over the new year caused a frenzy as millions of Americans rushed to get their hands on one. Some school districts also require negative tests before students return to campus.