Mask wearing is a critical mitigation strategy in preventing the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), within school settings. In October 2020, a sample of 3,953 middle and high school students aged 13–21 years who were attending in-person classes were asked about mask use by fellow students in several settings. Approximately 65% of students reported that fellow students wore a mask “all the time” in the classroom and in hallways or stairwells. However, reported use of masks all the time was lower in other indoor locations, including school buses (42%), restrooms (40%), and the cafeteria (when not eating) (36%). Reported observed mask use all the time was lowest during sports or extracurricular activities (28%) and outside on school property (25%).
Source: Falcon Goal 1 Student Web Panel Survey, October 1–24, 2020.
Footnotes
Based on responses by students participating in a Falcon-CDC Foundation cross-sectional web panel survey administered using Qaltrics. Students were asked the following question: “Thinking about students you see at school, how often do these students wear masks in the following locations?” Responses ranged from “all the time” to “never.”