Mask Off: Researching Face Mask Rumors
37 Articles
Much has been said on the subject of masks since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
- Published
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that fully vaccinated people no longer needed to wear masks except in certain cases in May 2021, it sparked a flurry of questions that felt a little bit like deja vu. There’s been misinformation and malicious disinformation around mask usage since the beginning of the pandemic, from hoax studies to false claims about health issues — and Team Snopes has checked many of them.
Here they are, all in one place.
Can Everyone Who’s Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 Go Anywhere Maskless Now?
If you're planning to travel or visit a doctor, the CDC says cover your face...
Can Everyone Who’s Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 Go Anywhere Maskless Now?
Are These Claims About the Effectiveness of Face Masks True?
Widely shared posts from the summer of 2020, purportedly citing the CDC and U.S. Occupational...
Are These Claims About the Effectiveness of Face Masks True?
Did a ‘Stanford/NIH’ Study Conclude Masks Don’t Work?
Really depends on how you define these words: Stanford, NIH, Study, Conclude, Mask, and Work.
Did a ‘Stanford/NIH’ Study Conclude Masks Don’t Work?
Can You Get Legionnaires’ Disease from Face Masks?
Rumors about masks are getting more creative, but health experts still recommend wearing cloth face...
Can You Get Legionnaires’ Disease from Face Masks?
Is It Dangerous to Wear a COVID-19 Protective Mask for Too Long?
Prolonged usage of certain masks can cause some health concerns.
Is It Dangerous to Wear a COVID-19 Protective Mask for Too Long?
Should Fabric Masks Be Sanitized in a Microwave?
Experts do not recommend heating up your personal protective gear like leftovers.
Should Fabric Masks Be Sanitized in a Microwave?
Are Thieves Handing Out Masks With Chemicals That Make You Pass Out?
Memes exploiting fear over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic have been widespread on social media.
Are Thieves Handing Out Masks With Chemicals That Make You Pass Out?
Does Farting Negate the Use of Masks to Prevent COVID-19?
It's natural to pass gas, but please don't pass along this meme.
Does Farting Negate the Use of Masks to Prevent COVID-19?
Do ‘Disposable Blue Face Masks’ Contain Asbestos-Like Substance?
A specific disposable mask that contains a coating of graphene was distributed by officials in...
Do ‘Disposable Blue Face Masks’ Contain Asbestos-Like Substance?
Do These Photos Show Staph Infections Caused by Face Masks?
"Having a staph infection [from wearing a face mask] is a pretty rare occurrence, and...
Do These Photos Show Staph Infections Caused by Face Masks?
Will Red or Blue Masks Be Required By ‘National Mask Code’?
A flyer went viral claiming unvaccinated people must wear red masks and face a range...
Will Red or Blue Masks Be Required By ‘National Mask Code’?
Did CDC Report ‘Majority’ of People Who Contracted COVID-19 Wore Masks?
U.S. President Donald Trump amplified misunderstanding when he claimed on live television that “85% of...
Did CDC Report ‘Majority’ of People Who Contracted COVID-19 Wore Masks?
CDC Says Masks Must Fit Tightly – And Two Are Better Than One
Everyone still needs to be wearing masks as much as possible. So how do you...
CDC Says Masks Must Fit Tightly – And Two Are Better Than One
Is This a Valid Face Mask Exemption Card?
Exemption cards citing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) encouraged people to defy face mask...
Is This a Valid Face Mask Exemption Card?
Can People Without Disabilities Use an ADA ‘Mask Loophole’ in Stores?
For the record, Americans without disabilities are not protected by the federal Americans with Disabilities...
Can People Without Disabilities Use an ADA ‘Mask Loophole’ in Stores?
Did CDC Recommend Everyone Wear Tin Foil Face Masks To Prevent COVID-19?
Move over tin foil hats. Tin foil face masks are here!
Did CDC Recommend Everyone Wear Tin Foil Face Masks To Prevent COVID-19?
Did Tucker Carlson Say Forcing Kids To Wear Masks Outside Is ‘Child Abuse’?
The Fox News host has also said seeing a vaccinated person wearing a mask outside...
Did Tucker Carlson Say Forcing Kids To Wear Masks Outside Is ‘Child Abuse’?
Did Arizona GOP Rep. Ask ‘If Masks Work, Why Weren’t They Needed in AIDS Crisis?’
Joseph Chaplik was met with bemusement after remarks he made while advocating for a bill...
Did Arizona GOP Rep. Ask ‘If Masks Work, Why Weren’t They Needed in AIDS Crisis?’
Cloth Masks Do Protect the Wearer
When you wear a mask – even a cloth mask – you typically are exposed...
Cloth Masks Do Protect the Wearer
Did Biden Violate His Own Mask Mandate?
This argument appears to be based on a willful misunderstanding of Biden's new mask policy.
Did Biden Violate His Own Mask Mandate?
Did Boys in China Die After Wearing Face Masks During Physical Exercise?
English-language news outlets shared a set of reports that emerged from Hunan and Henan provinces...
Did Boys in China Die After Wearing Face Masks During Physical Exercise?
Yelling at People Who Aren’t Wearing Masks Won’t Work
People can better convince others to wear masks if they share the fear, loss and...
Yelling at People Who Aren’t Wearing Masks Won’t Work
Does Your Face Mask Protect You or Other People?
The distinction between face coverings designed to protect the wearer, and those that may protect...
Does Your Face Mask Protect You or Other People?
Did Fauci Blame Mask Use for 1918 ‘Spanish Flu’ Deaths?
Masks definitely aren't responsible for mass deaths today.
Did Fauci Blame Mask Use for 1918 ‘Spanish Flu’ Deaths?
Does a 1994 Denver Airport Mural Show a Masked Global Population?
The problem with most online "predictions" is that they seem to occur after an event...
Does a 1994 Denver Airport Mural Show a Masked Global Population?
Is US Government Requiring Pantyhose Worn Over Masks?
During the pandemic, more people are looking for ways to make their cloth masks more...
Is US Government Requiring Pantyhose Worn Over Masks?
Are ‘Neck Gaiters’ Worse at COVID-19 Transmission Than Foregoing Masks Altogether?
Rumors claimed that using neck gaiters instead of a mask may actually increase the transmission...
Are ‘Neck Gaiters’ Worse at COVID-19 Transmission Than Foregoing Masks Altogether?
How Did Mask Wearing Become So Politicized?
Not wearing a mask has become a political act, even though masks slow the spread...
How Did Mask Wearing Become So Politicized?
Does ‘ABA’ Letter Prove Anyone Making COVID-19 Masks Can Be Sued?
A letter falsely attributed to the Ohio State Bar Association made some questionable claims.
Does ‘ABA’ Letter Prove Anyone Making COVID-19 Masks Can Be Sued?
Was Rand Paul ‘Right’ All Along About the CDC Mask Mandate?
The U.S. senator rejoiced at revised guidelines allowing fully vaccinated people to relax mask wearing...
Was Rand Paul ‘Right’ All Along About the CDC Mask Mandate?
How To Make Sure Your Mask Maximizes Protection
Whether or not you agree with a mandate to wear a mask, many of us...
How To Make Sure Your Mask Maximizes Protection
The Constitution Doesn’t Have a Problem with Mask Mandates
It is not always clear why anti-maskers think government orders requiring face coverings in public...
The Constitution Doesn’t Have a Problem with Mask Mandates
Did a Couple Wear Swastika Masks to Walmart?
It was not the first such incident reported during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Did a Couple Wear Swastika Masks to Walmart?
Did an Oregon County Say Only White People Must Wear COVID-19 Masks?
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown did issue an order requiring people wear masks in seven counties,...
Did an Oregon County Say Only White People Must Wear COVID-19 Masks?
Did the US Surgeon General Recommend the Public Not Wear Masks?
Jerome Adams' comments from early 2020 were re-shared and went viral months after he changed...
Did the US Surgeon General Recommend the Public Not Wear Masks?
What to Wear: Feds’ Mixed Messages on Masks Sow Confusion
Forgive the American people if they’re in a fog about face masks. President Donald Trump...
What to Wear: Feds’ Mixed Messages on Masks Sow Confusion
Government Investigating Massive Counterfeit N95 Mask Scam
Federal authorities are investigating a massive counterfeit N95 mask operation in which fake 3M masks...
Government Investigating Massive Counterfeit N95 Mask Scam