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

Israeli mask maker Sonovia completes IPO, valuing NIS 9.15 a share

The SonoMask displayed an ability to neutralize the novel coronavirus at an effectiveness of more than 99% in trials performed by the ATCCR Laboratory.

DECEMBER 27, 2020ByZACHARY KEYSER

Sonovia mask

Amid COVID-19, masks and social distancing have shrouded our identities

The corona age has forced us to socially distance and shroud much of our identities. It turns out that we cannot even rely on our names to define us anymore.

DECEMBER 24, 2020ByRICHARD SHAVEI-TZION

Face masks

Masks are much more likely to disrupt facial perception - study

Ben-Gurion University researchers conduct a recent study that evaluates how masks disrupt facial recognition and perception.

DECEMBER 23, 2020ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shoppers wear face masks and walk around a fashion shopping center in Ashdod, as restrictions over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ease around Israel, May 5, 2020.

Israel makes anti-coronavirus mask from ‘biological warfare’ disinfectant

The mask was found to be 99.999% effective in protecting wearers from the virus, Hadassah reported

DECEMBER 19, 2020ByMAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN

Hadassah-developed mask claims to protect wearers from the novel coronavirus

Smartphone-connected face mask designed in Romania

The “social mask” is a minimalist and transparent mask featuring a biosensor that can connect to a smartphone.

DECEMBER 4, 2020BySARAH CHEMLA

Livinguard face mask protects wearer, inactivates, destroys coronavirus

People lie about having had COVID-19 to avoid wearing a mask – opinion

The quickest way to discover that they are lying about their antibodies is to ask them what their count was.

NOVEMBER 23, 2020ByMICAH D. HALPERN

A protective face mask is seen as curbs to fight the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been reimposed after a rise in new cases, at Zikim beach in southern Israel July 21, 2020. Picture taken July 21, 2020.

Study on effectiveness of medical masks amid COVID draws harsh criticism

The study found no significant difference in rate of catching the virus between those who wore masks and those who didn't.

NOVEMBER 21, 2020ByTAMAR URIEL-BEERI

PEOPLE ON Jaffa Street in Jerusalem wear masks on Sunday.

The $1.5 million COVID mask from Motza

First it's a COVID mask made to FDA standards, then it's a piece of art.

NOVEMBER 16, 2020ByHANNAH BROWN

The Motza mask valued at $1.5 million

Israel's new virus surveillance system detects masks and social distancing

However, the monitoring system does not have facial recognition capabilities.

NOVEMBER 11, 2020BySARAH CHEMLA

Surveillance, illustrative

Total US COVID-19 deaths could hit 500,000 by February, researchers say

"We are heading into a very substantial fall/winter surge," said IHME director Chris Murray, who co-led the research.

OCTOBER 24, 2020ByREUTERS

US President Donald Trump speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news briefing at the White House in Washington, US, July 23, 2020