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

Uncomfortable flying without a mask mandate? Some airlines may refund your ticket

If flying without a mask mandate makes you nervous, some airlines will offer you a refund but others won't give you a break unless you have a refundable ticket.

APRIL 23, 2022ByHUGO MARTIN/LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

Air travellers wearing protective face masks, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, walk at JetBlue Terminal 5 at JFK International airport in New York, US, November 16, 2021.

Want to honor the pain we’ve felt during the pandemic? There’s a Torah portion for that

There’s a marker baked into Jewish tradition that hasn’t been discussed — and it provides a perfect opportunity for commemorating the earth-shattering change that we have all experienced.

FEBRUARY 19, 2022ByEFREM EPSTEIN, RABBI ERIC WOODWARD/JTA

Illustrative photo of a man walking with a mask in Jerusalem, January 10 2021.

Names of Canada truck convoy donors leaked after reported hack

Distributed Denial of Secrets announced on its website that it had 30 megabytes of donor information from Christian fundraising site GiveSendGo.

FEBRUARY 14, 2022ByREUTERS

A demonstrator holding a Canadian flag walks in front of vehicles as truckers and their supporters block downtown streets as they continue to protest the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 14, 2022.

New York state to drop indoor mask mandate this week

The Democratic governor intends to let the mask mandate, which has been challenged in court, expire as scheduled rather than seeking to renew it.

FEBRUARY 9, 2022ByREUTERS

NEW YORK LIEUTENANT Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a news conference the day after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation, in Albany.

Face masks make it harder for children to recognize people - study

This is especially important as COVID-19 mask mandates remain in effect but schools re-open, so children will continue to be forced to constantly interact with masked people.

FEBRUARY 8, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

People walk some with face masks on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem January 06, 2022.

New Jersey, Delaware to end school mask mandates in move to 'normalcy'

By no longer requiring students, teachers and administrators to wear masks in schools, the governors are also seeking to blunt one of the most divisive issues of the pandemic.

FEBRUARY 7, 2022ByREUTERS

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.

Pantyhose found to be effective facemask hack for better protection - study

With many opinions about the best way to wear your mask, researchers have compared several alterations, aka fit hacks, to improve the protection of poorly fit masks.

FEBRUARY 5, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Commercial Images iStock.

Is COVID-19 spinning up our reptilian brains? - opinion

What happens when we can’t connect in person, when we’re unable to see the smiles on our friends’ faces because we’re covered up, whether by a mask or on a poorly lit Zoom call?

JANUARY 27, 2022ByBRIAN BLUM

WHAT HAPPENS when we’re unable to see the smiles on our friends’ faces because we’re covered up?

Israel Police solve rape case with DNA sample from used mask

A Jerusalem resident in his 30s was arrested for raping and physically assaulting a tourist back in 2009 after police took a DNA sample from a used mask.

JANUARY 20, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

The face mask that ended Israel Police's 13-year investigation into a rape case.

Kiosk worker stabbed by customer after asking him to wear mask

A man in his 30s stabbed a kiosk worker in Kiryat Bialik after being asked to wear his mask. The man has been arrested and is currently detained.

JANUARY 5, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

A shopper puts on a protective face mask as she enters a store as new New York State indoor masking mandates went into effect amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City, New York, US, December 13, 2021.