Most Will Mask Up On Planes Even Without Mandate: FL Patch Survey

Tiffany Razzano
Updated ·3 min read

FLORIDA — Despite a federal judge in Florida voiding the Centers for the Disease Control & Prevention’s federal mask mandate for all forms of public transportation last week, many Patch readers in Florida said they plan to keep their masks on.

“I trust the CDC more than a judge,” one reader responded to a Patch survey.

Though travelers no longer need to wear face masks on planes, buses, and ferries, or in transit centers, like airports and bus stations, 56 percent of those who responded to a recent Patch survey said they’ll still do so.

Nearly 43 percent said they no longer plan to wear masks on public transit, while 1.5 percent are unsure.

Patch received 264 responses to the survey, which is meant not to be a scientific poll, but only to give a broad idea of public sentiment.

“I wear a mask in all public places. I’d rather be safe than sorry,” a reader responded to the survey.

Another wrote, “I think it’s overrated and I’m not taking precautions.”

When asked if the federal mandate to wear masks on public transit should remain in place, 53 percent of readers said yes. Another 43 percent said there should be no mandate, while about 4 percent were unsure.

51 percent of readers said that they worry about another surge in COVID-19 cases in Florida. Meanwhile, nearly 40 percent said they aren’t concerned about the possibility of another coronavirus surge and just over 8 percent were uncertain.

The number of COVID-19 cases has slowly increased in recent weeks.

From March 25-31, there were 8,640 new cases reported in Florida, CDC data shows.

Then, from April 1-7, there were 11,337 new cases, a 3.8 percent new case positivity rate and 27 deaths reported in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report.

During the following week, April 8-14, there were 15,623 new cases reported in Florida, according to CDC data.

According to the most recent FDOH data, from April 15-21, there were 20,860 new cases, a 6.1 percent new cases positivity rate and 26 deaths reported in the state.

Meanwhile, just 35 percent of respondents said they continue to wear masks in public, while 43 percent said they don’t.

Another 24 percent said they only wear face masks in certain places. The top places where Patch readers wear masks include

  • doctor’s offices, hospitals and medical facilities (70 percent of readers)

  • large indoor events and gatherings with 50 or more people (45 percent)

  • grocery stores (45 percent)

  • indoor shopping malls or big box stores (41 percent)

  • smaller indoor events and gatherings with less than 50 people (35 percent)

  • movie theaters (35 percent)

“I think people are too lax about a virus resurgence. I think people are selfish and don't care about other people's health,” one reader told Patch. “I wear my mask when I'm inside buildings or I avoid going places if I would be uncomfortable wearing a mask for a long period of time. And I now refuse to fly on an airplane if no one else is going to be wearing a mask. No thank you.”

Another reader responded, “The only precaution I'm taking is to sanitize my grocery carts when I shop. But, then again, I've always done that, so it's not particular to COVID.”

This article originally appeared on the Bradenton Patch