Support For Keeping Mask Mandate On Planes And Trains: VA, DC Survey

VIRGINIA — Readers in Virginia and the District of Columbia overwhelmingly support keeping a federal mask mandate in place on public transportation, with an even larger percentage planning to continue to wear masks while traveling on trains and airplanes, according to a Patch survey.

The Patch survey for Virginia and D.C. readers received 940 responses. The survey was open from noon on Thursday, April 21 to 5 p.m. on Monday, April 25. Questions surrounded a decision by a federal judge on April 18 that set aside the federal mask mandate — put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 — for all forms of public transportation.

Public transportation systems, including airlines and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority, lifted their mask mandates later in the day after the judge’s ruling on April 18.

The survey is not intended to be a scientific poll, but rather give a broad idea of public sentiment on wearing masks on public transportation.

In response to the survey question on whether the federal mask mandate for public transportation should remain in place, 629 people, or 66.9 percent, of the 940 readers who responded to the question said they believe it should remain in place.

Respondents who said they do not believe the mask mandate on public transportation should remain in place totaled 263, or 28 percent of the readers who answered the question. Forty-eight readers, or 5.1 percent of respondents, said they are undecided on whether the mask mandate should remain in place.

At the urging of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Justice last Wednesday filed a notice of appeal to a federal judge’s ruling that overturned the federal mask mandates on public transportation that had been designed to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

In a statement, the CDC said it believes it is “well within CDC’s legal authority to protect public health” by requiring people to wear masks while on public transportation.

“It is CDC’s continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health,” the agency said.

The decision to lift the federal mask mandate came on April 18 from U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, a nominee of former President Donald Trump. In her 59-page ruling, she determined that the ordinance exceeded the authority of U.S. health officials, saying they may not “act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends.”

In response to the question on whether they will still wear a mask on public transportation, including on airplanes and Metro trains and buses now that the mandate has been lifted, 682 people, or 72.6 percent, of the 940 people who answered said they will continue to wear a mask on public transportation.

"I will not use Metro or buses unless Metro requires masks," a survey respondent commented.

"Follow the CDC, not a judge who has no understanding of what masks do," another reader said. "Read her opinion. It was so ignorant, words escape me."

In another comment, a reader said the CDC "has been making harebrained decisions throughout the pandemic. Unfortunately, now the courts are doing so, too."

Respondents who said they do not plan to continue to wear a mask on public transportation totaled 242, or 25.7 percent, of the survey participants. Sixteen readers, or 1.7 percent of the survey respondents, said they are undecided on whether they will continue to wear a mask while on public transportation.

"Since the latest ruling, I think it’s up to each individual's comfort level," a reader commented. "People shouldn’t judge people's choices."

In the survey, readers were asked to check all the public places where they will continue to wear a mask. When riding trains and buses, 73.2 percent of respondents said they would continue to wear a mask. In airports and on airplanes, 72.7 percent said they would keep masking.

In other settings, 96.2 percent of respondents said they would continue to wear a mask in medical facilities like hospitals. A large majority — 65.4 percent — said they would continue to wear masks in grocery stores and other retail environments.

Sixty-two percent of readers said they would continue to wear masks at indoor events like concerts and sporting events. When eating indoors at a restaurant, 48.3 percent said they would continue to wear a mask, while 46.2 percent said they would continue to wear a mask in the workplace.

"I will continue to wear a mask in public settings where there's a large group of people attending whom I don't know or otherwise have contact with — at least for another few months," a reader said in a comment.

"Masks should be worn not only to protect ourselves, but also to protect those especially vulnerable," another reader said.

One reader commented that the mask "was not used as a method to stop the spread, but as a way to instill fear into people."

"I am glad the masks are no longer required and feel enough of the population has either been vaccinated or has the antibodies," the reader said. "The pandemic is over."

A small percentage of readers said they would continue to wear masks at outdoor restaurants and events.

A large majority of readers — 65.9 percent — said they are concerned that there will be another surge in COVID-19 cases.

Nearly 26 percent of respondents said they are not concerned about another surge in cases, while 8.5 percent said they are unsure in response to the question.

"COVID has not been eliminated," a reader commented. "The more people get it, the more chances it has to mutate. It should be common sense that when indoors in confined settings, face coverings should be worn, whether mandated or not."

Another reader said the focus should be on the hospitalization rate and capacity. COVID-19 variants are becoming so mild that a surge in cases does not necessarily pose the same health risk as it did previously, the reader said.

"There are vaccines, sanitation measures, and information out there that people need to assume their own risk instead of the government dictating it," the reader commented. "Families with small children and those with disabilities have been negatively impacted with the travel mandates and inconsistent enforcement. It needs to stop. Wear a mask if you'd like, but government needs to stop dictating our daily lives."

Another reader said that much of the debate over masks "seems to be a question of whether people are thinking of the needs of the community."

"To protect vulnerable adults and children, we need to wear masks indoors in general and outdoors in crowded places," the reader said.

RELATED: Will You Keep Wearing Mask On Public Transit? VA, DC Patch Survey

This article originally appeared on the Falls Church Patch