Prevalence of mask wearing in northern Vermont in response to SARS-CoV-2
Abstract
Objectives
Information on prevalence of face mask usage in response to SARS-CoV-2 is required to both model disease spread and to improve compliance with mask usage. We sought to (1) estimate the prevalence of mask usage in northern Vermont and to (2) assess the effect of age and sex on mask usage.
Methods
We monitored the entrances to businesses and visually assessed individuals’ age, sex, and mask usage from a distance. We collected 1004 observations from 16 May through 30 May 2020 as businesses began to reopen following an extended state-wide lockdown. We analyzed these data using Bayesian random effects logistic regression.
Results
75.5% of individuals used a mask with significant effects of age and sex on mask usage. Females were more likely than males to wear masks (83.8%, n=488 vs. 67.6%, n=516); the odds of mask usage in males were 53% of those for females. Elders were most likely to wear a mask (91.4%, n=209) followed by young adults (74.8%, n=246), middle-aged adults (70.7%, n=519) and children (53.3%, n=30). The odds of an elder wearing a mask were 16.7 times that of a child, while the odds for young adults and middle-aged adults were ∼3 times greater than for a child. Highest mask usage was in elder females (96.3%, n=109) and lowest mask usage was in male children (43.8%, n=16).
Conclusions
We found high prevalence of mask usage overall, but also large differences in mask usage with age and sex. Females and elders had the highest use of face masks.
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