face masks

A demonstrator carries a cross with the inscription "German Constitution Law" during a protest against measures imposed by the German government to limit the spread of the coronavirus, on November 18, 2020 near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. (Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)

November 22, 2020, 4:15 pm

German FM slams anti-mask protesters for ‘making a mockery’ of Nazi victims

Heiko Maas says recent comparison to Anne Frank and resistance fighter Sophie Scholl ‘trivializes the Holocaust and shows an unbearable forgetting of history’

By Michelle Fitzpatrick

A young girl is tested for the coronavirus by a healthcare worker at a COVID-19 testing center set up at a basketball court, in Ramat Gan, October 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

October 29, 2020, 11:48 am

With 688 new cases, daily virus rates in Israel hit lowest level since June

Israel stays below 1,000 daily cases for a week; PM calls for investment in mask development; Gamzu says closure must be extended on Majdal Shams, imposed on Bu’eine Nujeidat

By TOI staff

Illustrative: A police officer in Bnei Brak on October 18, 2020. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

October 27, 2020, 10:01 pm

Video shows cop manhandling maskless teens, while failing to wear one himself

Tiberias incident caught on camera by youths; police say the teens hurled rocks at officers — but the officer will be fined for failure to cover up

By TOI staff

Using old surgical masks as plant pots. (Courtesy, Pablo Chercasky, Director of the KKL-JNF Jewish National Fund's Gilat Tree Nursery in southern Israel)

October 27, 2020, 11:36 am

JNF official: Don’t trash used masks, use them to grow plants

Head of KKL JNF Jewish National Fund’s Gilat Tree Nursery in Negev discovers that old surgical masks are perfect for cultivating seeds, seedlings and cuttings

By Sue Surkes

A woman walks out of a pharmacy in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park on September 23, 2020 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP)

September 25, 2020, 2:31 am

As a new outbreak grows in Brooklyn, mask-wearing appears to remain scarce

Virus cases are spiking in some New York Orthodox communities, but various factors are preventing widespread adoption of a practice experts say can help keep COVID away

By Shira Hanau

People picnic during the annual Midsummer celebrations in Stockholm, Sweden, June 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)

September 23, 2020, 4:19 pm

Sweden avoids 2nd virus surge, but many questions remain on its outlier approach

With case numbers rising elsewhere, World Health Organization says Europe could learn broader lessons from Swedes that could help the coronavirus battle elsewhere

By david keyton

In this Oct. 18, 2019, file photo a JetBlue Airways flight flies in to Salt Lake City International Airport (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

August 21, 2020, 9:29 am

Brooklyn mother of 6 ordered off JetBlue flight as 2-year-old won’t keep mask on

Passengers on flight from Orlando seen supporting woman, as flight attendants insist family deboard despite airline regulations excusing young children from mask-wearing

By Marcy Oster

Sarah Nadav, shortly after being attacked on a Tel Aviv bus (via Sarah Nadav)

August 13, 2020, 12:58 pm

Tel Aviv woman says she was attacked after asking bus passenger to wear mask

Sarah Nadav says she was hit in head with an energy drink, spat at, subjected to angry tirade after making request; advocacy group says it receives complaints daily

By Nathan Jeffay

Parts and a model of a mask are displayed by the Israeli jewelry company Yvel in Motza near Jerusalem, August 9, 2020. (AP Photo/ Sebastian Scheiner)

August 10, 2020, 11:06 am

Israeli jeweler makes $1.5 million gold, diamond virus mask

Isaac Levy says a Chinese businessman in the US has requested priciest face covering in the world; 18-karat mask will be decorated with 3,600 diamonds

By ISAAC SCHARF

A man wearing a protective mask walks next to travelers as they queue up to board a boat at Stranvagen in Stockholm on July 27, 2020, during the novel coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic. (Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)

August 4, 2020, 5:28 am

Northern exposure: Nordic countries defy rest of world to go mask-free

While most of the world moves toward face coverings, Scandinavian countries have not recommended the practice and citizens won’t wear them unless the government tells them to

By Marc Preel and Nioucha ZAKAVATI

The new ViriMASK, invented by Noam Gavriely (courtesy of ViriMASK)

July 30, 2020, 6:55 pm

New Israeli-made mask claims to offer best protection yet against coronavirus

Former IDF gas mask innovator says his invention stops 99.25% of airborne particles — better than N95 — while insisting this outweighs its clunky look

By Nathan Jeffay

A photo tweeted by a city councilman in the Hague that references the yellow stars Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust, to protest an application for monitoring coronavirus carriers. (Arnoud van Doorn/Twitter via JTA)

July 29, 2020, 11:26 am

Minnesota Republican group posts meme comparing masks to yellow Star of David

State party chairwoman says ‘they believe this was a hack’; image showed Jewish man with star on his chest facing down Nazi officer, with the text ‘Just put on the mask’

By Agencies

Screen capture from video of a man and woman wearing swastika face masks as they shop at a Walmart in Minnesota, July 25, 2020. (Facebook)

July 27, 2020, 2:08 pm

Video shows couple wearing swastika face masks in Minnesota Walmart

When confronted, woman says attire is a warning against Joe Biden becoming president because he will introduce socialism; pair banned from chain for a year

By TOI staff

Illustrative: A hair stylist works on a customer, Monday, June 15, 2020, in Royal Oak, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

July 15, 2020, 6:09 am

US study shows masks prevented major coronavirus outbreak at hair salon

CDC investigation adds weight to rules on face coverings, finds two stylists worked on 139 clients in two week period while they were infected, but no customers became sick

By AFP

Batya Getter, center, along with her family as they meet with senior Jerusalem police officers, July 13, 2020. (Israel Police)

July 14, 2020, 1:39 am

Police minister meets ultra-Orthodox girl left in tears by cop run-in

Amir Ohana tells Batya Getter, filmed after police stopped her for not wearing a mask, that my heart went out to you,’ vows to improve ties between police and Haredi community

By TOI staff