Abstract
Background: A variety of government bodies in the US - cities and tribal councils, counties, and states - have issued mask-wearing orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Methods: We measured the duration of these orders and the populations covered by them in each of the governed areas. We measured the in effect days from April 3, 2020 (the date of the first mask order) to November 30, 2020; the duration of the measured period amounts to 241 days. We used data generated from local and state governments, and news organizations to measure the enactment dates and the duration of the orders; and from the US Census Bureau (dated 2019) to measure municipal, county, and state populations. Results: The average coverage over all states was 57.7% of the maximum person days of coverage. States which issued statewide orders from their governors had a total of 67.1% coverage; this includes coverage from regional government orders prior to the statewide orders. States with orders only from municipal or county councils had on average 27.1% coverage. Conclusion: Overall, state governments took leadership in the implementation of mask orders.
Highlights
As the COVID-19 pandemic proceeded through the US in 2020, face masks as preventive devices grew in importance[1]
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and US President Trump first recommended the wearing of face masks on April 3, 20202,3
The first local government order in the US that we found was issued by the San Diego County Council on April 35; this order covered retail employees
Summary
As the COVID-19 pandemic proceeded through the US in 2020, face masks as preventive devices grew in importance[1]. The first local government order in the US that we found was issued by the San Diego County Council on April 35; this order covered retail employees. New Jersey was the first state to have a mask order, issued by Governor Phil Murphy on April 86. A variety of government bodies in the US - cities and tribal councils, counties, and states - have issued mask-wearing orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We used data generated from local and state governments, and news organizations to measure the enactment dates and the duration of the orders; and from the US Census Bureau (dated 2019) to measure municipal, county, and state populations. States with orders only from municipal or county councils had on average 27.1% coverage. Conclusion: Overall, state governments took leadership in the implementation of mask orders
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