The lack of consensus among global political and public health leaders on the need for face masks during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as misinformation and disinformation regarding the utility of masks and potential adverse effects of face mask use, may also explain this resistance. Consequently, mask mandates and recommendations were met with resistance from certain groups. Hence, these mandates may be perceived as infringing on freedom of choice in those settings. Public health mandates provide a blanket order for the application of interventions to reduce disease transmission rather than providing a choice for the adoption of those interventions. This efficacy, alongside the widespread availability and ease of use of face masks has prompted public health officials worldwide to advocate for, or mandate, face mask use in indoor public spaces and in settings with limited opportunity for physical distancing, as part of efforts to control the spread of the virus. The utility of face masks and other face coverings in reducing person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated in epidemiological and laboratory-based studies, as well as in real-world settings. When worn appropriately, face masks and other face coverings limit the spread of aerosolized droplets by trapping them within their fibers. Person-to-person spread of SARS-CoV-2 is mediated through aerosolized droplets that are generated during activities such as talking, singing, coughing, or sneezing. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes COVID-19, which, in extreme cases, results in severe lung damage, multiorgan failure, and death. The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide led to the declaration of a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. The odds of face mask use were 3.68 times greater when the provincial mask mandate was in effect than when it was not (adjusted odds ratio 3.68, 95% CI 3.33-4.05). In a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for possible confounders, factors associated with face mask use included age, ethnicity, health region, mode of travel, destination, and time period. Nonusers of face masks were much more likely to be male than female, especially in retail locations and restaurants, bars, and cafés. Face mask users mostly visited retail locations (51.8%) and travelled alone by car (49.6%), whereas nonusers mostly traveled by car with others (35.2%) to their destinations-most commonly parks (45.7%). In-store and public transit mask mandates supported monthly face mask usage rates of approximately 80%, which was further bolstered up to 92% with the introduction of the provincial mask mandate. ![]() Of the 44,301 respondents, 81.9% reported wearing face masks during the 23-month period.
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