face masks

Amtrak will limit bookings to half of a train's normal capacity so passengers can maintain social distance.

Amtrak To Require Masks Starting Monday To Avoid Spread Of The Coronavirus

9:42pm May 07, 2020

by David Schaper

Customers will have to wear masks in stations, on trains and on Thruway buses. Amtrak is booking only half of each train's normal capacity, making it easier for passengers to sit farther apart.

Health & Safety

A Face Mask Culture Shift Is Happening — Is Everyone On Board?

7:51am May 06, 2020

by David Ford

State and local health officials in North Carolina continue to recommend the use of face coverings in public spaces to contain COVID-19.

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An N95 face mask outside NYU Langone Health hospital during the coronavirus pandemic.

Opinion: NFL Fashion Masks But Still Not Enough Protective Masks

8:04am May 02, 2020

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon explains why protective masks for frontline workers are still in short supply, while fashion masks for the rest of us seem to be readily available.

A traveler wearing a face mask looks at the flight board at Reagan National Airport last month in Washington. JetBlue is the first major U.S. airline to require passengers to wear face coverings.

'The New Flying Etiquette': JetBlue Mandates Face Masks For All Passengers

1:06pm April 28, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

JetBlue is the first major U.S. airline to require passengers to wear face coverings, though others have issued similar mandates for crew members. Flight attendants have pushed for the change.

A pharmacy employee shows KN95 protective face masks that were made in China. Companies like Golden Pacific Fashion and Design in Shanghai, which used to sell curtains, have pivoted to making KN95 masks like these.

'It's The Wild West': To Meet Pandemic-Fueled Demand, Factories Turn To Making Masks

4:55pm April 24, 2020

by Rob Schmitz

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global free-for-all for manufacturing protective equipment, especially face masks. Now factories that once produced curtains or other items are churning them out.

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Researcher Loretta Fernandez of Northeastern University wears a homemade face mask without and with an extra outer layer made from nylon stockings (right). The added nylon outer layer significantly boosted masks' ability to filter out small particles, her

Adding A Nylon Stocking Layer Could Boost Protection From Cloth Masks, Study Finds

6:36pm April 22, 2020

by Maria Godoy

Scientists who tested a variety of cloth face masks found that a nylon overlay significantly boosted how well they work. Researchers not involved in the study praised the finding.

A do-it-yourself mask culture is springing up in the Czech Republic. This woman was photographed on the Charles Bridge in Prague on March 28.

Why There Are So Many Different Guidelines For Face Masks For The Public

3:38pm April 10, 2020

by Huo Jingnan

Some agencies and places urged or required people to use face coverings in public early on. Others dismissed the coverings as ineffective, then revised their stance. Why the differences?

Customers wearing facial coverings at a Starbucks in Bangkok last month. In the U.S., the company is requiring employees to wear coverings starting Tuesday.

Health & Safety

Starting Tomorrow, Starbucks Will Require Employees To Wear Face Coverings At Work

7:24pm April 06, 2020

by Hannah Hagemann

For employees who don't have their own face covering, the company created a tutorial on how to create one using store supplies.

CDC Changes Course, Says Everyone Should Cover Their Face In Public

8:45am April 04, 2020

by Allison Aubrey

U.S. officials say high-quality masks should still be saved for health care workers, but are encouraging people to use something to cover their mouth and nose when they're out in public.

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A pedestrian in a face mask crosses the Williamsburg Bridge in New York City last month. U.S. health authorities have announced they're changing the official recommendations on face masks, now urging people to wear them in public spaces to help slow the s

CDC Now Recommends Americans Consider Wearing Cloth Face Coverings In Public

10:13pm April 03, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

The president emphasized wearing a mask in public is voluntary, and that medical-grade masks are not necessary.