Association of masking policies with mask adherence, distancing during COVID-19

Editor's Note

This study led by researchers at Kaiser Permanente, Southern California, Pasadena, finds that masking mandates had a significant role in influencing people to wear masks during COVID-19.

A total of 109,999 individuals in 126 US cities were included in the analysis. Data were collected by 231 students affiliated with 16 universities and/or colleges from September 2020 through August 2021.

Among the findings:

• 48% wore masks correctly
• highest adherence was among females, teens, and seniors
• lowest adherence was among non-Hispanic whites, those in vigorous physical activities, and those in large groups
• having a local mandate increased the odds of wearing a mask by nearly 3-fold
• those in noncommercial areas were least likely to wear masks
• correct mask use was greatest in December 2020 and remained high until June 2021
• masking requirements were not associated with an increase in distancing.

Having a masking mandate was the strongest factor associated with mask adherence and should be considered in future respiratory viral pandemics, the researchers concluded.