Irish Examiner view: Masks will affect

Mandatory face coverings mean words are muffled and the full range of facial expressions is no longer available as an aid to interpretation

Face masks mean that many people are finding communication more difficult. 

It is a sign of the extraordinary times that masks, once the preserve of protesters, paramilitaries, and criminals, have now become a symbol of public compliance.

A few short months ago, for instance, pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong risked arrest for wearing masks. Now, you are more likely to be arrested for not wearing face-coverings, which are mandatory in more than 50 countries as the world struggles to contain the coronavirus.