MASKS

The CDC updated its website to say N95 and KN95 masks offer higher levels of protection than cloth masks, although it stopped short of recommending them for everyone.

Italy, Spain and other European countries are reinstating or stiffening mask mandates as their hospitals struggle with mounting numbers of COVID-19 patients.

If you're masking up again because of omicron, here is what researchers say will help you get the most out of your mask.

The Archdiocese of Miami is now requiring face masks for anyone attending Mass at its 109 parishes.

Universal Orlando is reinstating its mask requirements beginning Christmas Eve as COVID-19 cases are surging as a result of the omicron variant

Wearing two face masks during the pandemic may be an effective way to protect yourself against the virus.

Students say the new Omicron variant is making them extra-cautious as they go home for Christmas.

After the story of a 7-year-old girl with Down syndrome having a mask tied onto her face while at school in Brevard County gained national attention, an investigation by Indian Harbor Beach police found there was no evidence to suggest that the mask being tied to the girl constituted some form of child abuse.

Rebuking the Biden administration, Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday passed a measure that seeks to prevent workers from being required to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Top Florida education officials inched closer to a legal battle with the Biden administration over federal reimbursements for school districts that were dinged financially by the state for imposing student mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A local government and courts in Florida are easing up on COVID-19 restrictions.

Florida lawmakers begin debating a package of bills to combat coronavirus vaccine mandates, continuing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' fight against virus rules.

Florida’s largest school district is dropping all mask mandates.

An administrative law judge Friday rejected a challenge to a state Department of Health rule designed to prevent student mask requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the first time since the beginning of the school year, parents have the ability to choose if their child wears a mask at Orange County Public Schools.

An appeals court Friday signaled it thinks school officials in Alachua and Duval counties have violated state law by requiring students to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and ordered lower courts to quickly take up the issue.

Florida's surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, is now responding days after he was asked to leave a meeting with Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky — who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer — because he refused to wear a mask.

Changes are coming when it comes to school mask policies. Seminole County’s Medical Director Dr. Todd Husty said with lower levels of transmission and positivity rates, people are making personal decisions when it comes to masks.

A group of parents, teachers and local politicians gathered outside the Orange County School Board Monday to urge district leaders to extend mask requirements in the classroom.

Intensive care beds are full, patients wait outside and vaccination rates are among Europe's lowest.

The Florida Department of Health on Friday proposed a long-term rule to try to prevent school mask mandates and give parents more authority to decide whether children who have been exposed to COVID-19 should be able to attend school.

Research says surgical masks and KN95s are more effective than homemade cloth masks. Here's what experts say about the differences, and when to wear each.

The Florida Board of Education sends a formal notice to the Brevard County School Board, giving the district 48 hours to comply with state student mask mandate rules.

The State Board of Education on Thursday ratcheted up discipline against eight county school boards that have maintained student mask mandates to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Brevard County School Board voted Tuesday 3-2 in favor of transitioning to a policy that would give parents the choice to opt-out their children from the districtwide mask mandate.

It’s long past time for an upgrade.

The Washington state Department of Health says it will immediately start offering booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to certain people after recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other groups.

Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection cited seven businesses between last Thursday and Sunday for failing to follow the city’s indoor mask mandate, according to a Tuesday news release.

Changes are coming to the mask policy at Volusia County Schools after district leaders discussed the issue during a Tuesday night meeting.

Here's the latest on the battle between the state and some parents over students wearing masks in schools.

A mandatory face-covering policy begins in Volusia County schools.

Will Lake County students have to wear masks to class?

The Osceola County School board decided to not make any changes to their 30-day mask mandate after a heated debate during a board meeting on Monday.

After more than a year of attending church virtually, Monique Allen has struggled to explain to her asthmatic daughter why people from their congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints don’t wear masks. Church leaders recently issued their strongest statement yet urging people to “limit the spread” by getting COVID-19 vaccines and wearing masks, but Allen said she fears it’s still not enough to convince the many families in her congregation who refuse to wear masks and have succumbed to anti-vaccine misinformation. Members of the faith widely known as the Mormon church remain deeply divided on vaccines and mask-wearing despite consistent guidance from church leaders as the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus spreads.

Students in Orange County are now required to wear masks for the next 60 days.

The attorney for parents suing to overturn the governor's executive order banning strong student mask mandates says the order violates the authority of school districts to decide health issues.

A hearing in a high-profile lawsuit challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order aimed at preventing local school boards from imposing student mask mandates is ready for closing arguments on Thursday.

Attorneys for Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday began calling witnesses to back the state’s case against allowing school districts to impose student mask mandates, as a hearing continued in a lawsuit challenging a DeSantis executive order.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) on Tuesday announced a new statewide outdoor mask mandate requiring people to wear masks in most outdoor settings regardless of vaccination status.State of play: Starting Friday, Oregonians will be required to wear masks outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. While the mandate does not apply to outdoor gatherings in private residences, masks are "strongly recommended" when people from different households cannot remain socially distanced. Get market news wo

The coronavirus is disrupting more classrooms in Florida, while lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis argue against school mask mandates in a Tallahassee courtroom.

Three weeks into the school year, thousands of students and staff across the Atlanta metro have had to quarantine after being exposed to COVID, according to one estimate.

Three weeks into the school year, thousands of students and staff across the Atlanta metro have had to quarantine after being exposed to COVID, according to one estimate.

Outside of the Orange County Public School headquarters, pressure is mounting for the school board to enact mask mandates with no option of opting out as parents, teachers and educators call for a mask mandate.

The politically-charged Florida debate over wearing masks in school to guard against coronavirus infection is now before a judge.

Classes begin on Monday for students at the Univesity of Central Florida.

Walt Disney World is tweaking its face mask policy.

The family argues masks make it safer for their immunocompromised daughter to attend school.

The family argues masks make it safer for their immunocompromised daughter to attend school.

Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties have become the third and fourth school districts in Florida to adopt stricter mask mandates, a day after school boards in Broward and Alachua counties faced threats of severe penalties for defying Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, which says parents should decide whether their children wear masks.

The board, during an emergency meeting, voted to direct state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to “investigate” the actions of Alachua County and Broward County school officials.

Students went back to class Monday in Volusia County where new face-covering rules were put in place for the beginning of the school year.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is sticking with his ban on mask mandates inside Florida public schools.

State Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran reiterated DeSantis’ position that parents should be able to decide whether children wear masks.

Seminole County Health Director Todd Husty said the virus will still spread.

Amazon mask requirement Amazon warehouse employees will be required to start wearing masks on Monday, regardless of vaccination status. (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Amazon has joined other major retailers in requiring employees to wear masks. >> Read more trending newsAmazon announced that beginning Monday, all of its 900,000 U.S. warehouse workers must wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status, The Wall Street Journal reported. Previously, Amazon employees had the option not to wear masks if they had proof of vaccination, according to NBC News. >> Coronavirus: Target employees will be required to wear masks in high-risk areasAmazon said it would continue to encourage all of its employees to get vaccinated, NBC News reported.

Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Jenkins is ordering all students to wear masks in schools for 30 days starting on the first day of school, Aug. 10.

Florida’s Board of Education decided Friday to provide private school vouchers to parents who say a public school district’s mask-wearing requirements amount to harassment of their children.

Florida students could soon use state-backed vouchers to transfer to private schools if they object to wearing masks in classrooms.

Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order banning mandates and reinforcing a parent’s right to choose whether their child wears a mask in school.

A Florida school district is “waiting for guidance” after reversing its initial mask mandate due to the governor’s executive order that bans mandates and threatens to cut funding from districts that do not comply.

As hospitalizations and COVID-19 cases continue to surge statewide, Central Florida’s largest school district announced days before students return to the classroom that it will require its employees to wear masks.

Despite a Florida executive order banning mask mandates in schools, one Florida school district is moving forward with mask requirements.

Beginning this weekend at Watkins Glen International, NASCAR will require all personnel to wear a face mask in enclosed areas at all times, regardless of vaccination status.

Starbucks, McDonald’s, Home Depot to require workers wear masks inside all locations A host of national retailers and restaurant chains are reinstating indoor mask mandates for employees, regardless of their vaccination status, amid a nationwide surge in COVID-19 infections spurred by the delta variant. >> Related: Coronavirus: Target employees will be required to wear masks in high-risk areasHome Depot will require all associates, contractors and vendors to wear masks while indoors at all U.S. Home Depot stores, distribution centers and offices, as well as in customers’ homes and businesses, MLive.com reported. >> Related: Coronavirus: Kroger ‘strongly encourages’ customers to wear masksStarbucks will likewise require employees in its roughly 8,900 company-operated U.S. locations to wear masks beginning Thursday, is recommending patrons follow suit and will require patrons to comply in areas where local officials have already issued mandates, the Journal reported. >> Related: Coronavirus: Publix employees must wear masks again starting MondayMeanwhile, McDonald’s updated policy applies to both company-owned and franchisee-owned restaurants, the newspaper reported. >> Related: Coronavirus: Most infected in outbreak after large public events were fully vaccinated, CDC saysMore coronavirus pandemic coverage:>> Coronavirus: How long between exposure to the virus and the start of symptoms?

Orange County leaders detailed the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the county during a new conference on Monday afternoon.

Democrats are overwhelmingly buying into new and strict COVID mandates out of Washington, with two-in-three endorsing vaccines and mandatory masks — even for the vaccinated.

Seminole County Public School is giving parents an extra week to sign their students up for Seminole County Virtual School.

Facial masks may be one of the most cost-effective strategies to prevent the diffusion of Covid 19 infection. Don't trust the fake news.

With COVID-19 cases on the rise, The Hammered Lamb in Orlando's Ivanhoe Village is once again asking its customers to wear masks while inside the restaurant.

Masks required Visitors to the National Zoo and the Smithsonian museums in Washington will be required to wear masks indoors beginning Friday. (Liu Jie/Xinhua via Getty Images)WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian Institution announced Thursday that all visitors -- even people who are vaccinated -- must wear masks at indoor venues at its museums and at the National Zoo. Fully vaccinated people will not be required to wear masks in outdoor areas, officials said. However, all zoo visitors must wear masks indoors, including in restrooms, according to WTTG. In addition, gamblers who flock to the Las Vegas Strip will be required to wear masks inside casinos as part of Nevada Gov.

A Florida school board voted Wednesday to require all students and faculty to wear masks inside schools for the fall semester, a policy at odds with Gov. Ron DeSantis's stance against making face covers compulsory.

For a few glorious weeks, Wall Street employees who were vaccinated against Covid-19 could ditch their masks at the office. That's ending.

Apple gained a reputation during the Covid-19 pandemic for making evidence-based decisions about where and when it was safe to operate its retail stores.

The BMA doctors' union says it is "scandalous" staff working in the pandemic were put at risk.

Reversing earlier guidance, the agency will likely encourage indoor masking for fully vaccinated people under certain circumstances.

N95 masks may be especially important for people who are unvaccinated or othwerise vulnerable to severe covid-19 disease.

The governor’s mandate requiring masks for students and staff in K-8 schools will worsen staff shortages. (Letters to the Editor)

Friends want to repay reader’s kindnesses, but their dinner invitation raises concerns.

Masks will no longer be legally required in taxis, on buses or trains when coronavirus restrictions are eased in England next week.

The flight cancellation meant smaller vacations for some passengers

When the unvaccinated see people in public without masks, they will surely stop wearing theirs. This puts the public's health at risk.

Public health experts are discussing the potential benefits of wearing masks even after the coronavirus pandemic has ended. What are the benefits and drawbacks?

Vaccinated workers can stop wearing them on May 18. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) (Charles Krupa)NEW YORK — (AP) — Walmart says it will close its U.S. stores on Thanksgiving for the second consecutive year. “Closing our stores on Thanksgiving Day is one way we're saying ‘thank you' to our team," wrote Dacona Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Walmart U.S., in a corporate blog. Walmart, like other stores, successfully pushed more sales online to reduce crowds in its stores. But, even as safety protocols relax, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer apparently believes that not having the Black Friday kickoff on Thanksgiving won't hurt its business.

Vaccinated workers can stop wearing them on May 18. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) (Charles Krupa)NEW YORK — (AP) — Walmart says it will close its U.S. stores on Thanksgiving for the second consecutive year. “Closing our stores on Thanksgiving Day is one way we're saying ‘thank you' to our team," wrote Dacona Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Walmart U.S., in a corporate blog. Walmart, like other stores, successfully pushed more sales online to reduce crowds in its stores. But, even as safety protocols relax, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer apparently believes that not having the Black Friday kickoff on Thanksgiving won't hurt its business.

The new guidance is for day camps and overnight camps.

“Although people who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks, camp programs should be supportive of campers or staff who choose to wear a mask,” CDC officials said in the agency’s new guidelines. In April, officials said children can play at summer camps, so long as they don’t get within 3 feet of one another. About 2.1 million people in that age range have so far been fully vaccinated, officials said. >> Related: Coronavirus: CDC eases mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated AmericansSome public health officials and others have criticized that announcement, partly because it seemed to conflict with other CDC guidance. Globally, 169.1 million COVID-19 cases have been reported, resulting in 3.5 million deaths.

Government officials are asking people at cyclone shelters to wear double masks and practice social distancing.

GOP lawmakers want the rules on masks on Capitol Hill to be changed, despite uncertainty regarding their vaccine status.

After more than a year of working out at home, people are ready to head back to the gym as mask requirements are lifted in parts of the U.S.

Nation's largest supermarket chain says those immunized against COVID-19 will no longer have to cover their faces.

Walmart, Costco, and Starbucks among retailers not requiring shoppers to wear masks where permitted by local laws.

The CDC has said fully vaccinated people generally don't need to wear masks. But if you're planning to fly, you still have to mask up.

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Chicago area and the rest of Illinois.

With an uncertain outlook of COVID-19 and political connotations surrounding masks, classrooms could become a checkerboard, with some students wearing masks but others showing their faces.

The evolving science of masks How can you tell if the mask you’re wearing is protective enough against the coronavirus? Correspondent David Pogue volunteers as a test subject to see how N95s work and learns about the science of face coverings.

Here's what experts have to say about Biden's vaccine timeline

Here's what experts have to say about Biden's vaccine timeline

We covered our faces with masks and, in doing so, created an easy way to identify the selfish — maskless heathens — and the careless, with masks slouched recklessly below their noses. If you told me at the beginning of 2020 that Americans would be complaining that wearing a cloth mask to protect others from a deadly virus was simply too burdensome, I would’ve laughed you out of the room.

Georgia artist makes custom masks that delight community Product designer Huckleberry Starnes makes custom masks highlighting the wearer's personality rather than hiding it. Mark Strassmann shares how the masks are putting smiles on faces during these tough times.