Yes To Statewide Mask Mandate, Masks In Schools: NC Patch Survey

NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolinians can get behind a new statewide mask mandate, and think face coverings should be required inside schools and businesses. That's according to more than 500 North Carolina readers responded to Patch's survey last week asking residents how they feel about masks in light of increasing COVID-19 cases and new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While around 24 percent of those who responded to Patch's non-scientific survey said they "never" wear a mask indoors in public, even more — nearly 52 percent — said they always wear masks in indoor public spaces.

The sentiments reflect the reality throughout North Carolina, where each of the state's 100 counties reported a high level of COVID-19 transmission, according to the CDC. That means every corner of the state falls under new CDC guidelines urging everyone — vaccinated or not — to wear masks indoors.

Meanwhile, about 7 percent of readers who responded said they wear a mask indoors in public "more than half the time," while around 4 percent said they do so "about half the time," and about 13 percent said they do less than half the time.

Sentiments among readers were stronger when it came to vaccinations.

An overwhelming number of those who responded — nearly 83 percent — said they are vaccinated against the coronavirus, while almost 9 percent said they are not, and nearly 9 percent preferred not to say. (As of Aug. 19, about 59 percent of adults in the state were considered fully vaccinated against coronavirus, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.)

As some school districts begin to reverse or reconsider a masks-optional stance, a plurality of North Carolina Patch readers who responded — around 65 percent — said they think students and staff should wear masks at school. Around 30 percent of respondents were against masks in schools, and about 5 percent weren't sure.

The support for masks inside schools largely carried over to the issue of a new statewide mask mandate in North Carolina, with nearly 62 percent of those who responded saying they were in favor of it. About 37 percent of respondents, however, were adamantly against the idea.

A slightly higher amount of respondents — nearly 64 percent of those who responded — were also in favor of local businesses requiring patrons to wear masks, while around 34 percent said businesses should not require patrons to wear masks, and around 2 percent of Patch readers who responded weren't sure how they feel.

The survey also asked North Carolina Patch readers to share any additional thoughts on masks and the COVID-19 pandemic in general. Here's a sampling of responses:

• School teachers and staff should be required to be vaccinated or show a twice weekly negative test. Vaccination clinics should be held at high schools and middle schools.
• We are smart people who can make our own decisions for our health. Masks and vaccinations are OUR decision. The government needs to stay out of it. Why should we trust them to do the right thing.
• The side effects of the lockdowns and mask mandates are doing far more long term harm.
• Masks save lives.
• NO more dirty mask nor lockdowns, this is still a Free Country
• DEFINITELY back to mask mandate statewide from the Governor, or we will be right back to square one. Haven’t we lost enough lives? This is NOT going away people.
• While masks can prevent people from getting Covid-19, the better solution for everybody is to get vaccinated. The more people that do get the vaccine, the farther we'll get back to normal.
• Vaccine is readily available. We that are vaccinated, have social distance, and done all that has been asked to do have done our part. Don't put us through it again.
• I'm not happy about the extra expenses we will all be paying, either through insurance premiums or taxes, for the cost of hospitalizing people who could have gotten a vaccination for free. I'd like to see them sign an agreement that if they refuse the vaccine (with no underlying medical reason) that they pay their own COVID-related health costs.
• At this point, public health decisions and guidance should be issued by non-partisan medical & public health experts so that we can focus on ending the pandemic instead of political agendas.
• If you don't mask up, then you do not enter facilities. No smoking is allowed in facilities to protect health, so if you have no mask then no entry as this is to protect health as well.
• It’s time to realize this isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be. We need to focus on helping people lead healthier lives, instead of living in fear and social distancing. We need to stand up for our freedoms and know that people can make their own choices when they are properly informed.
• People can decide on their own what to do. The government does not need to mandate.
• I think if everyone had stayed the course last year, and most people were vax’d, we wouldn’t be here now.
• I have major health issues and am compromised wherever I go. If people continue to not wear masks, I cannot go to work every day. If I caught the virus, I will surely pass away.
• My body, my choice. The way we all wear masks, and constantly touch them, I believe they will only hurt us in the long run.
• Those already vaccinated shouldn't have to wear a mask.
• The mandate was relaxed, but a lot of individuals who were not vaccinated took off their mask as well. Now the numbers are climbing back up rapidly. Everyone that can should get vaccinated or stay home and protect yourself and others.
• I wish I knew the truth. To many lies and misinformation to discern truth.
• Even though I'm vaccinated, I mask up for my 3-year-old Grandbaby and all the other little children who can't get vaccinated. It's a simple, selfless thing to do.

Shannon Antinori, Patch staff, contributed