Most in U.S. would go back to wearing masks if COVID cases rise: poll

[left-of-center2012]

Now that it’s two years into the pandemic, most living in the United States aren’t as worried about the health risks COVID-19 poses compared with the last several months — but they say they’d wear face masks if needed, according to a new poll.

In fact, 3 in 4 U.S. residents say they’d return to masking up if virus infections ramp up where they live as of March 14, the latest Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index poll has found, as most states have lifted their mask mandates in recent weeks.

Most aren’t wearing masks when they go out anymore. A quarter of the country, only 26%, says they’re “wearing a mask at all times when leaving the home,” the poll found. 66%, are optimistic about returning to “normal” pre-COVID-19 life and believe the virus poses little to no risk in doing so. Nearly the same percentage of U.S. residents, 64%, want all “federal, state and local government” virus restrictions to end. A third of the country says they’re already living like they were before COVID-19 hit, according to the poll. Meanwhile, 23% say they’re likely going to return to doing so within six months.

Ultimately, the majority of those living in the U.S., 56%, think COVID-19 is here to stay at least for the next year or longer as they don’t believe the virus will be fully eradicated, according to the poll.

Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article259420189.html#storylink=cpy

[samnsara]

1. mines staying on...covid isnt gone and will keep popping up til all vaxxed

[2naSalit]

2. Never stopped wearing them.

In fact, I wear KN/N 95 now where I only wore fabric masks before.

[lagomorph777]

3. "Return to masking up?"

Sensible people never stopped.

[SheltieLover]

11. Precisely!

[Blues Heron]

4. Maybe instead of being reactive people should adopt a proactive mindset

ie mask up to prevent cases from going up

[SheltieLover]

12. Absolutely!

[C_U_L8R]

5. Infections have been steadily rising here since the big drop in January

The mask stays on.

[Meowmee]

6. Sad to see how many stupid people there are

Still masking here and will continue for some time.

[LizBeth]

7. Our mask mandate was lifted on the 12th. Walking into a store with people all

around the entrance, I decided I wanted my mask. I still have to wear it at work and go into the hospitals and doctor offices and medical clinics. I am guessing I am going to be doing a picking and choosing on the mask wearing, regardless what the state says. I had a woman pass me with a mask and she gave me a thumbs up. It took me a minute to figure out why she gave me a thumbs up.

[BlueMTexpat]

8. I am one who still wears

mine whenever I go out.

Although I am in a minority, I am not alone.

While I am vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19, I am still basically following Covid precautions.

In addition to not catching Covid-19 myself - and hopefully thus not infecting others - I have not even caught a cold since 25 March 2020.

So there is something to this wearing a mask.

Please stay safe and healthy all!

[PSPS]

10. "I have not even caught a cold"

Fun fact: For many years now, starting long before there was any "pandemic," people in Beijing rarely get colds. Why? Because it has been common for many years for them to wear masks outdoors because of the air pollution.

[relayerbob]

9. Haven't stopped wearing it in public places

Covid isn't gone, it still is higher than it was when all the restrictions went in place originally, and new variants are in the way per wastewater analysis