Mask use, risk-mitigation behaviours and pandemic fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic in five cities in Australia, the UK and USA: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

To determine patterns of mask wearing and other infection prevention behaviours, over two time periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, in cities where mask wearing was not a cultural norm. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of masks and other preventive behaviours in adults aged !18 years was conducted in five cities: Sydney and Melbourne, Australia; London, UK; and Phoenix and New York, USA. Data were analysed according to the epidemiology of COVID-19, mask mandates and a range of predictors of mask wearing. Results: The most common measures used were avoiding public areas (80.4%), hand hygiene (76.4%), wearing masks (71.8%) and distancing (67.6%). Over 40% of people avoided medical facilities. These measures decreased from March-July 2020. Pandemic fatigue was associated with younger age, low perceived severity of COVID-19 and declining COVID-19 prevalence. Predictors of mask wearing were location (US, UK), mandates, age <50 years, education, having symptoms and knowing someone with COVID-19. Negative experiences with mask wearing and low perceived severity of COVID-19 reduced mask wearing. Most respondents (98%) believed that hand washing and distancing were necessary, and 80% reported no change or stricter adherence to these measures when wearing masks. Conclusion: Pandemic mitigation measures were widely reported across all cities, but decreased between March and July 2020. Pandemic fatigue was more common in younger people. Cities with mandates had higher rates of mask wearing. Promotion of mask use for older people may be useful. Masks did not result in a reduction of other hygiene measures.

How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected the Way We Access and Interact with the Countryside and the Animals within It?

“…It is important to note, however, that during lockdown, there was also an increase in the percentage of respondents reporting that they never go for walks outdoors, although the values remained low (from 0.7% pre-lockdown to 4.9% during lockdown). Like wearing a mask, hand washing, and social distancing, limiting time spent outside was a health-protective/risk-mitigating behaviour used by some individuals to reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19 [ 15 , 16 ]. However, as suggested by another survey-based study, it appears that some of the respondents used the opportunity provided by the COVID-19 restrictions to increase their daily physical activity from their pre-COVID levels [ 17 ].…”

The Impact of Universal Mask Use on SARS-COV-2 in Victoria, Australia on the Epidemic Trajectory of COVID-19

“…Finally, with an estimated 75% of the population using a mask during the second wave in Victoria (34), the model suggests that the effectiveness of masks was about 11%. With 75% of people wearing masks of 11% effectiveness the model shows 20,191 cases by 1 October, which is very close to the 20,183 cases officially reported by the same date (35).…”

“…The estimated real-world effectiveness of masks in Victoria was low, and likely reflects a wide range of poor-quality masks being used, including single-layered cloth face coverings of poor quality. Notice of the mask mandate was short, and over half of the population used cloth masks, likely home made (34). Cloth masks are the most accessible, feasible, and cost-effective option for the community, and research on improved design of cloth masks has been conducted during the pandemic (39,40).…”

Yet another lockdown? A large-scale study on people's unwillingness to be confined during the first 5 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

“…In terms of gender, there are 8,237 (41%) and 11,817 (59%) answers by women and men, respectively. We group the age of our participants into four possible age buckets: [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29], [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49], [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59] and 60+, with 9%, 44%, 27% and 20% of the answers, respectively.…”