Indoor Public Mask-Wearing Behavior Changes in Response to National, State, and Local COVID-19 Policies

Abstract

Objective: To estimate changes in public mask-wearing behavior in response to public health policies during COVID-19.

Design: Panel of observed public mask-wearing.

Setting: Counts of adult behavior in Marion County, Indiana, between November 15, 2020, and May 31, 2021.

Determinants of interest: (1) Removal of state masking requirement; (2) introduction of the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness; (3) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation that vaccinated individuals did not need to wear masks in public; and (4) COVID-19 vaccine availability.

Outcome: Percent observed with correct mask-wearing.

Analyses: Fixed-effects models estimated the association between policies and mask-wearing.

Results: Ending Indiana's mask requirement was not associated with changes in correct mask-wearing. The CDC's recommendation was associated with a decrease of 12.3 percentage points in correct mask-wearing (95% CI, -23.47 to -1.05; P = .032).

Conclusions: Behavior encouraged by local mask requirements appeared to be resilient to changes in state policy. CDC recommendations appeared influential.