Tracking COVID Compliance in a Medical Library: An Observational Study

Abstract

Objectives: Research question: Given a strict, campus-wide mask and social distancing mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19, at what rate is adherence observed in patrons of a large medical library? Methods: At a large medical school in the Midwest, a mask ordinance was implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19 when campus was re-opened in the summer of 2020. All students, faculty, and staff were required to sign a commitment form affirming that they would wear a mask while on campus. By the fall of 2020, many in the community were beginning to experience "pandemic fatigue," which was reflected in the rising number of cases in the state and region. Curious about whether the patrons of the library continued to adhere to the mask mandate when out of sight of the main desk and any enforcement mechanisms, we instituted a compliance check to be performed by a staff member every other hour. Staff observed users of the library, tracking total number of patrons with and without masks. Results: During the observation period of October 2020-March 2021, rates of mask mandate compliance in the library averaged between 87%-100%. While 87% is a relatively low rate of compliance, most of these cases were noted while patrons were sitting at individual, isolated desks. Staff in the library conjecture that this may have been due to misunderstanding on the part of the patrons about when masks were required to be worn. Staff did not a few instances of refusal when patrons were asked to don masks, which were addressed at a higher level of authority. Conclusions: Even with a strong mask mandate and clear guidance from the school, COVID-19 precaution compliance was not perfect. Going forward, library faculty and staff will continue to work with student groups and medical school administration to ensure that our patrons adhere to best practices for protecting the health and safety of the campus community.