Despite promise:

Columbia pres. says there is no mask ban

US President Trump's team says Columbia agreed to “enforcing a strict anti-masking policy,' interim President Katrina Armstrong tells faculty there is no mask ban.

Purim:

The power of masks

This has been a year of masks: We saw organizations claiming to fight for "human rights" reveal their true faces—showing that they don’t actually care about Jews. We saw women’s rights organizations put on masks and ignore Jewish victims of rape and torture.

Ritchie Torres to Kathy Hochul:

'Lip service on mask ban meaningless, buck stops with you'

Democratic Congressman rips NY Governor for dragging feet on reinstating a ban on masking in public to combat the antisemitism and violence that characterize anti-Israel protests.

Survey:

3/4 of New Yorkers support mask ban amid anti-Israel protests

#UnMaskHateNY publishes results of survey finding 75% of New Yorkers support revival of bans on masking in public as anti-Israel activists frequently wear masks during hate-filled demonstrations and while committing hate crimes.

Nassau County bans masks at protests

Republican legislators pass "Mask Transparency Act," which criminalizes wearing a mask in public in light of the prevalence of masks at antisemitic protests.

New York must ban masks before someone gets killed

We cannot count on the Jew-haters’ cowardice continuing forever, especially when they are allowed to hide their identities by covering their faces. Op-ed.

ADL calls for anti-mask laws to combat antisemites in New York

Following rise in antisemitic incidents in New York, ADL calls for revival of anti-mask laws that were used against the KKK before being repealed during the COVID pandemic.

Is COVID coming back?

Health Ministry recommends masks

Ministry of Health recommends that people at high-risk use a mask in closed places to minimize the risk of infection.

Face-masks:

Meta-analysis shows lack of impact on disease

Cochrane reviewed over 600,000 participants in 78 randomized-controlled studies.

Ki Tisa and Shabbat Parah: Taking off the mask

Our Sages enacted that on the Shabbat (occasionally the final Shabbat) before Nissan, every Shul would read this decree of the Red Cow:

Op-ed:

Haman is alive and killing today

Don't celebrate Purim without realizing there are contemporary Hamans hiding their loathing for Jews behind masks of false victimhood.Op-ed.

Were face-mask mandates for kids politically motivated?

"A very solid majority favor school masking," reads email sent to Biden admin. officials

Return of the masks? Movement calls for change in policy

Movement for social justice calls on Health Ministry to reinstate mask requirements, require COVID testing for international travelers.

Israel considering reimposing COVID mask mandate

Israel's coronavirus czar warns of steady increase in COVID infection rates, says Health Ministry may restore mask requirement.

Uptick in COVID-19 cases

Health Ministry recommends masks in closed spaces

Ministry of Health recommends that masks be worn in enclosed spaces in order to protect at-risk populations and the elderly.

New research:

Face-masks increase inhaled CO2 to dangerous levels

Effect even more pronounced in children, after just a few minutes of mask-wearing & without physical exertion.

Israel announces end to mask mandate on airplanes

Health Ministry to drop requirement to wear masks on planes starting next week.

Yes to the world’ but no to Jews:Lufthansa's antisemitic scandal

The airline must recognize that its staff implemented an anti-Semitic policy and apologize for it if it wants to retain credibility. Op-ed.

Mask requirement on flights likely to be abolished

Health authorities mulling ending requirement to wear masks on flights.

New study: Face mask usage correlates with higher death rates

Using data from 35 countries and 602m people, study confirms previous research, cautions masks "may have harmful unintended consequences."

Watch: Passengers 'rejoice' as masks come off mid-flight

Many Americans say they still prefer to wear protective masks to ensure their wellbeing.

US government appeals court ruling which lifted mask mandate

The move comes after a judge struck down the COVID-19 mask mandate, stating that it exceeded the CDC's statutory authority.

Federal judge lifts CDC air travel, transportation mask mandate

Judge strikes down mandate after ruling that it was not lawfully implemented by the CDC.

COVID cases still rising but number of seriously ill stable

Prof. Nachman Ash: "We'll be able to lift face mask requirements soon."

DeSantis to high school students: 'Take off your masks'

'Please take those off, they don't do anything,' Florida governor tells high school students. 'This is COVID theater.'

CDC:

Most of US population in areas where masks aren't needed

Some 93% of the US population live in locations where people no longer need to wear masks indoors, says CDC.

House to lift mask mandate ahead of State of the Union

The moves comes after the CDC eased its mask recommendation for most Americans.

Unmasked

It is the time to take a look at what we seek to achieve by wearing Purim masks and the breaking down of our covid masking policies. Op-ed.

North Miami Beach:

Parent arrested for calling to torch Jewish school over masks

A parent was arrested after saying he would ‘burn’ down his son’s Orthodox Jewish day school over mask requirements.

Israel Freedom Convoy heads for Jerusalem

Protesters demand cancellation of govt emergency powers, end to discrimination based on vaccination status.

NY is lifting its mask mandates. Will synagogues follow suit?

New York State's mask mandate expires - but will synagogues continue to require wearing masks?

Watch: Illinois high schoolers stage walkout over mask mandate

"We’ve complied for two years. The science no longer supports it. Neither do we."

Study:

Kids struggle more than adults to recognize faces behind masks

Mask wearing can impact children's social interactions and ability to form relationships, say researchers from Israel and York University.

New CDC study on mask efficacy under fire for methodology

'The paper is entirely, irredeemably flawed - it shouldn't have been published,' says health researcher as CDC mask study comes under fire.

Winsome Sears: This mask mandate will come to an end

Virginia lieutenant governor discusses upcoming Virginia Supreme Court ruling on mask mandates.

New York judge strikes down mask mandate

New York judge rules the state's mask mandate is unconstitutional and a violation of state law.

Flight to London turns back after woman refuses to mask up

American Airlines plane turns around midflight because a passenger refused to wear a face mask.

US to distribute N95 masks for free

Biden administration to announce plan to distribute hundreds of millions of free, high-quality masks.

Mask-refuser attacks bus driver

Man refuses to wear mask in compliance with the law, attacks bus driver.

Israel likely to impose mask mandate at outdoor events

Health Ministry likely to institute mask mandate for events with 100 participants or more, even in the open air.

California announces statewide mask mandate

California to impose statewide mask mandate in all indoor public spaces amid sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.

Biden to extend public transit mask mandate through mid-March

The move comes amid concerns over the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Tear gas sprayed on bus driver - over mask request

Police investigating youths who attacked bus driver in Negev Arab city.

Watch: Shuttle driver stabs 15-year-old over argument about mask

Driver arrested on suspicion of stabbing youth near station at Galilee school, after youth refused to wear a mask, cursed and spat at him.

GOP member wears ‘Let’s go Brandon’ mask at House

South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan spotted wearing ‘Let’s go Brandon’ face mask on House floor.

'Do I need a face mask?' Merkel asks Bennett?

German Chancellor tells PM Bennett she had her second jab three months ago. "Then you're good," he tells her.

Police officers resigning in droves over vaccine mandate

Police allege they have not been provided 'reasonable alternatives' to masks.

Jerusalem couple sues airlines over mask mandates for disabled

Class-action lawsuit filed by 13 flyers from the US and Israel against 7 US airlines alleging civil rights violations.

Florida governor: School board mask mandate 'violates state law'

Gov. Ron DeSantis responds to Sarasota School Board passing a mask mandate for children.

Study: COVID babies have reduced cognitive performance

Study cites face masks, lockdown, and maternal stress as possible causative factors.

Fla. Gov. threatens salaries of school officials forcing masks

Governor's office says salaries of school officials who violate order prohibiting mask mandates could face 'financial consequences.'

Watch: Man refuses to wear a mask - and is arrested

Man who refused to don mask in an enclosed mall is handcuffed and dragged out, as his wife looks on.

18 Jewish teenage girls escorted off plane in Amsterdam

Tour group accused of misbehavior and not following mask rules on flight from Kiev to Amsterdam.

Louisiana reinstates indoor mask mandate

Order will require all individuals 5 years of age and up to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

CDC: Vaccinated people should mask up indoors

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues new guidelines on masking in response to spread of Delta variant.

Los Angeles County to reimpose mask mandate

Los Angeles County will require residents to wear masks in indoor public spaces following spike in cases of COVID-19.

Today At Noon:

Israel reimposes mask mandate

Just days after abolishing mask mandate, Israel reimposes indoor mask requirement.

Indoor mask mandate to be reimposed next week

Coronavirus Czar Prof. Nachman Ash recommends public begin wearing masks indoors now even before mandate is reinstated.

Report: Health Ministry eyeing mask mandate for summer school

Ministry weighing return of mask mandate in schools, as broader plans for renewed mask requirement under consideration.

Are we on the way to lockdown? Drive-thru testing is back

COVID Czar admits latest outbreaks have yet to be contained.