Dataset: percent of population covered by local government mask orders in the US

Abstract

We present a dataset covering the extent of local mask orders between April and August 2020, in states which did not have statewide orders (and hence 100% coverage). We obtained data from national and regional newspaper and broadcaster web-based articles, and city and county web pages. The information that we abstracted included: city or county of ordinance, date that the ordinance took effect, and the population of the city or county. In 14 states, city or county governments issued mask-wearing orders, and from our dataset it can been seen that the median population covered in the states was 37.5%; the coverage ranged from 1.6% (New Hampshire) to 77.1% (Arizona). The dataset can be accessed from: https://doi.org/10.7939/DVN/A9C1UU