Most Massachusetts Residents Support New Mask Mandate: Survey

MASSACHUSETTS — Bay State residents are split on whether Gov. Charlie Baker should reimpose a mask mandate, but a majority support the state's decision to require masks in public schools this fall, according to a survey of Patch readers conducted this week.

"We had mask mandates with a LESS contagious version of COVID, and vaccinations for all types of things are required for school," one of the nearly 7,000 survey respondents said. "It's simply common sense."

A majority of respondents also supported a vaccine mandate in private schools. Of the 6,982 respondents, 58.3 percent supported mandatory vaccines for students over the age of 12, and 68.7 percent supported a vaccination requirement for teachers and staff.

The survey is meant not to be a scientific poll, but is designed to give a broad idea of public sentiment. The survey was conducted between Monday and Wednesday of this week. While 55.5 percent of respondents said they would support a new mask mandate in Massachusetts, 37.2 percent opposed a new mandate and 7.3 percent said they were unsure.

"The few that don't [support a mask mandate] shouldn't be allowed to hijack our state's epidemic management policies," one respondent said. "Once everyone has had a chance to get the vaccine if they want it, it's probably no longer necessary to mandate masks. But until then, gamble with the health of your own children–not mine."

Survey respondents were more tolerant of increased mask use in schools, with 64.5 percent of respondents saying students should be required to wear masks in school and 65.7 percent saying teachers and staff should be required to wear masks. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said Tuesday masks would be required in public schools at least through Oct. 1.

"Children too young for vaccines need to be protected. Masks can provide some barrier," one respondent wrote. "It is not perfect, but at least the educated adults can provide that minimum guidance. Some kids, including my own, have respiratory issues, and risking their lives at school should not be acceptable."

But the comments of people who oppose a new mask mandate reflect how divisive the issue remains, and how much fatigue has set in as a result of more than 15 months of living through a global pandemic.

"We have complied with everything....enough is enough!!!" one respondent said. "COVID is NOT going away, there will always be another variant. We need to learn to live ours lives with COVID. No more mandates!!!"

Of the respondents, 84.8 percent said they had received at least one dose of an approved coronavirus vaccine and another 1.7 percent said they plan to get vaccinated. That left 13.5 percent who said they do not plan to get vaccinated.

"We have locked down, wore masks, got vaccinated, and still COVID is here," another respondent wrote. "Time to let people make individual choices for their health and wellness in regards to masks and I don’t believe vaccines should be mandated to go anywhere indoors."

Even if they support a new mask mandate, not all respondents are currently wearing masks regularly. Just 49.2 percent said they wear masks "all the time," while 30.6 percent said they wear masks "never or almost never."

"Unless there is a mandate, many people will refuse to mask," one respondent said. "It's a no-win situation."