Yet the current politics around mask-wearing are nothing new. During the 1918 flu pandemic, directives to wear masks turned into a political battle over patriotism, gender and power.

A man wears a face mask to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as he walks past an art installation outside the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

The face mask 'is almost as much of a symbol as a MAGA hat' Trump’s reluctance to embrace masks has turned them into a political object despite his own administration’s public health advice.

Officers who conceal their faces while performing official duties could be charged with a misdemeanor under a new bill.

Face mask political debate becomes public flashpoint propelled by social media. ... These social media spats surrounding face masks have been a common occurrence since the lockdowns started in March.

Wearing a mask or not is no longer just a question of public health, but has become symbolic of political beliefs for some. As stay-at-home orders loosen and more people slowly begin to re-enter ...

Now in an election year, political leaders are denying responsibility, as the public tries to understand what led to the nationwide shortage of the relatively cheap N95 face masks, the protection ...

WASHINGTON – In Florida, the Miami-Dade Police Department has cited hundreds of businesses and individuals for not following face mask rules, and the county has collected nearly $300,000 in ...

WASHINGTON — The decision to wear a mask in public is becoming a political statement across the country — a moment to pick sides in a brewing culture war over containing the coronavirus ...

The controversy over wearing face masks continues, even as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Utah. KUTV: Ginna Roe reports While public health officials are strongly encouraging Utahns to wear ...

Face masks work. They need to be ... Stay at least 6 feet from others. And wear a face mask. ... “It is heartbreaking to see that (wearing masks) has become somehow a political statement, ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The decision to wear a mask in public is becoming a political statement — a moment to pick sides in a brewing culture war over containing the coronavirus. While not yet as ...