Face mask

Face masks are protective medical wear that help the wearer avoid infection from diseases or harmful materials. They prevent accidental ingestion or inhaling of fluids containing diseases by blocking vulnerable orifices or use materials that are antiviral or antibacterial.

Face masks were largely reserved for use by medical personal in the West, but were commonly utilized by the general population in East Asia to prevent the spread of disease.

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, masking in public spaces became mandated by many governments or was issued as an advisory by health authorities.

The effectiveness of face masks depends on the material, type of mask, and proper use of the mask. New masks have been developed to reduced the spread of COVID-19, while some authorities have advised double masking in order to increase face mask effectiveness. Some have met the idea of mask mandates with ferociousness, arguing that being forced to wear the masks is a violation of rights.

As flu cases rise in Israel, Health Ministry calls on at-risk groups to wear masks

While vaccination rates are climbing, with about 15.7 percent of the population inoculated, the ministry says coverage remains insufficient.

DECEMBER 17, 2025|ByTPS

A sick family

Burka illustrative

Portugal's parliament approves far-right party's bill to ban burkas

Under the bill, proposed fines for wearing face veils in public would range between 200 euros and 4,000 euros ($234-$4,671).

OCTOBER 17, 2025|ByREUTERS

Israeli security forces seen during an operation in the Tulkarm refugee camp, in the West Bank, July 6, 2025

IDF West Bank Chief outlaws wearing facemasks, punishable with half year in prison

This unusual move is a new initiative to make it harder for both Hamas terrorists and Jewish extremists, who perpetrate violence and nationalistic offenses, to avoid arrest.

JULY 20, 2025|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB

A demonstrator wears a protective mask as protestors gather at the gates of Columbia University, in support of student protesters who barricaded themselves in Hamilton Hall, despite orders from university officials to disband or face suspension during the Israel-Hamas war, in NYC, April 30, 2024.

Columbia bans face masks in protests and acquiesces to other Trump administration demands

“This is a huge win for Jewish safety at Columbia,” tweeted Eliana Goldin, who is enrolled in Columbia’s joint program with the Jewish Theological Seminary.

MARCH 21, 2025|ByPHILISSA CRAMER/JTA

COVID-19 isolation and compulsory masks should be canceled - Ichilov CEO

Isolation is still compulsory for people who test positive for COVID-19, and masks have to be worn in medical and welfare institutions.

AUGUST 24, 2022ByARIELLA MARSDEN

People walk on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem last week, some wearing masks, others not.

CDC no longer recommends students quarantine for COVID-19 exposures in US

The US CDC no longer recommends quarantine for students exposed to COVID-19.

AUGUST 11, 2022ByREUTERS

Magen David worker take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test from Israelis, at a Magen David Adom testing center in Jerusalem, on September 26, 2021.

Masking emotions? People can communicate despite face masks - study

This research suggests that the impact of masks on emotion recognition may not be as pronounced as previously thought, as long as the whole body is also visible.

JULY 19, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Children wear a masks and wait for US President Joe Biden to visit her pre-Kindergarten class at East End Elementary School to highlight the early childhood education proposal in his Build Back Better infrastructure agenda in North Plainfield, New Jersey, US October 25, 2021.

COVID-19: Israel's health minister recommends wearing masks indoors

“We are now seeing a recurring rise in infection and serious cases.," Nitzan Horowitz said and recommended that people, especially those at-risk, wear masks.

JULY 3, 2022ByJUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, December 30, 2021.

What we don't know about the next COVID-19 wave

HEALTH AFFAIRS: Major guidelines, such as masks on planes or testing to travel, may have been canceled, but we wonder when the government – here or elsewhere – will grasp at these guidelines again.

JUNE 23, 2022BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

BACK TO THE lines? Magen David worker take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test at a Magen David Adom drive-thru site in Jerusalem on Monday.

Mouth-to-mouth CPR effective while wearing face mask - study

A Czech study found that mouth-to-mouth ventilation through a breathable respirator was effective more than 90% of the time during the pandemic.

JUNE 5, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

United Hatzalah paramedics practice CPR on a volunteer.

COVID-19: How to cope with 'pandemilash' amid lifting measures - opinion

Nearly 4,000 tourists caught COVID while in Israel. How will we stop future spreads without testing?

MAY 20, 2022ByBRIAN BLUM

MASKS NO more? Hanging on a fence in Glilot.

COVID-19: Israel's mask mandate is over, but what do doctors think?

As Israel lifts indoor mask mandate, medical experts still disagree on their effectiveness.

APRIL 25, 2022ByMAYA MARGIT/THE MEDIA LINE

A face mask is seen on the street in Jerusalem amid the coronavirus pandemic, on February 2, 2021.

How are Israelis reacting to the end of the mask mandate?

With the mask mandate cancelled, Israel appears to be, for all intents and purposes, back to how it was before March 2020 and the outbreak of the pandemic.

APRIL 24, 2022BySHIRA SILKOFF

A TEL AVIV crosswalk this week, with a mix of masked and unmasked pedestrians.

Mask mandate cancellation comes into effect in Israel

The Health Ministry reported some 2,460 new coronavirus cases on Saturday evening.

APRIL 23, 2022BySHIRA SILKOFF

Israelis, some wearing masks, are seen walking in Jerusalem's Machane Yehuda market on January 13, 2022