To wear, or not to wear, that is the question: Observing mask usage at a university during the COVID-19 pandemic

RATIONALE: Correct mask usage is an important mitigation measure against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Despite requiring mask usage and other mitigation measures for students, staff, and faculty, a large university experienced a rapid increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases within the two weeks of opening in August 2020. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of mask usage at the university. METHODS: For seven weeks during October 5-November 22, eight trained observers conducted weekly observations of mask usage at two sites per week. A total of 18 on-campus and 4 near-campus locations served as observation sites, including student centers, libraries, classroom buildings, dormitories, student dining, transportation sites, nearcampus apartment buildings, a grocery store, and a football stadium. An observation period lasted until 40 observations per site were made or one hour elapsed, whichever occurred first. Observations occurred at different times on multiple days of the week from a fixed location at each site. Observers monitored mask usage of either every 3rd or every 10th person depending upon person-density, selecting only one sampling strategy per observation period. For each observed person, observers recorded whether a mask was worn, and for those wearing masks, if the mask was worn correctly (i.e., mouth and nose covered) and type of mask worn (i.e., cloth, surgical, N-95-type, gaiter, other). Percentage of persons wearing masks and percentage wearing masks correctly was calculated and communicated weekly to the university. RESULTS: The study included a total of 3,144 observations (mean = 449 per week [range: 389-510]). The mean weekly percentage of persons wearing masks was 83.9% (range = 79.6%-88.3%). Among the 2,637 people observed wearing masks, the mean weekly percentage wearing them correctly was 86.0% (range = 84.0% to 90.4%). The mean weekly percentage wearing masks varied by site type and ranged from 78.7% at transportation sites to 91.0% at library sites. Mask types observed were cloth (62.4%), surgical (30.5%), neck gaiter (5.8%), and N-95-type (1.1%). CONCLUSION: Approximately 7 in 10 persons observed were wearing a mask and wearing it correctly. Observed persons most often wore cloth masks and observed mask usage varied by site type. Conducting observational studies using standardized methodology can provide rapid information about mask wearing in a population. Such information can inform additional efforts at a university that experienced a COVID-19 outbreak to help improve compliance with correct mask wearing, one effective mitigation strategy against SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Mitigating a COVID-19 outbreak among major league baseball players - United States, 2020

Mass gatherings have been implicated in higher rates of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and many sporting events have been restricted or canceled to limit disease spread. Based on current CDC COVID-19 mitigation recommendations related to events and gatherings, Major League Baseball (MLB) developed new health and safety protocols before the July 24 start of the 2020 season. In addition, MLB made the decision that games would be played without spectators. Before a three-game series between teams A and B, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health was notified of a team A player with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19;the player was isolated as recommended. During the series and the week after, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was diagnosed among 19 additional team A players and staff members and one team B staff member. Throughout their potentially infectious periods, some asymptomatic team A players and coaches, who subsequently received positive SARS-CoV-2 test results, engaged in on-field play with teams B and C. No on-field team B or team C players or staff members subsequently received a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19. Certain MLB health and safety protocols, which include frequent diagnostic testing for rapid case identification, isolation of persons with positive test results, quarantine for close contacts, mask wearing, and social distancing, might have limited COVID-19 transmission between teams.