Opinion Study: Majority of Americans Want Travelers to Wear Masks
2022-04-21
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1A majority of Americans continue to support a mask requirement for people traveling on airplanes and other shared transportation, a new study finds.
2However, a ruling by a federal judge has stopped the government's transportation mask requirement for now.
3The study by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that despite strong feelings against that requirement 56 percent of Americans favor requiring masks for people on planes, trains and public transportation.
4There have been arguments and physical violence against flight attendants who asked airline travelers to wear masks.
5Those against the requirement made up 24 percent of the people studied.
6Researchers talked with people around the country from Thursday through Monday.
7Then, a federal judge in Florida ruled that the national mask requirement on airplanes and mass transit was "unlawful."
8Airlines and airports immediately ended their requirements that passengers wear face coverings.
9The Transportation Security Administration stopped enforcing the mask requirement.
10The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that it will not appeal the ruling unless the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is still necessary.
11The study shows a wide divide by political parties on the issue.
12Among Democrats, 80 percent favor and just 5 percent oppose the requirement.
13Among Republicans, 45 percent are opposed compared with 33 percent in favor, with 22 percent saying they had no feelings either way.
14Vicki Pettus recently moved from Frankfort, Kentucky, to Clearwater, Florida, to be near her grandchildren.
15She said she enjoys the beauty of the area, but does not like the "very lackadaisical attitude" by Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, about masking.
16She said she will continue to wear her mask to protect against the coronavirus, including around her community and on the plane when she travels.
17But Kriste Lee, who works in sales in South Florida, wants to fly mask-free when she travels next month.
18Lee said nobody is stopping anyone from wearing masks if they want to.
19She is not vaccinated.
20The continued support among Americans overall for mandating masks on transportation comes even as worries about COVID-19 are at their lowest points of the past two years.
21Just 20 percent now say they are "very or extremely worried" they or a family member could be infected.
22That has gone down sharply since December.
23Another 33 percent now say they are "somewhat worried," while 48 percent say they are not worried at all.
24Betty Harp is an 84-year old in Leitchfield, Kentucky.
25She is "very worried" after losing a lot of friends and family to the virus.
26"I know COVID is still here. It's still around," said Harp.
27She says she is a Republican-leaning independent.
28"I think we should all be wearing masks for a little while longer."
29The study also shows about half of Americans favor requiring masks for workers who face the public.
30Support is similar for requiring people at crowded public events such as sporting events and movies to wear masks.
31On these questions there are similar political party differences.
32Seventy-two percent of Democrats favor requiring people attending crowded public events to wear masks.
33Twenty-five percent of Republicans are in favor and 49 percent are opposed to requiring public-facing employees to wear face coverings.
34The AP-NORC poll of 1,085 adults took place from April 14-18 using a group of people designed to be representative of the United States population.
35I'm Jill Robbins.
1A majority of Americans continue to support a mask requirement for people traveling on airplanes and other shared transportation, a new study finds. However, a ruling by a federal judge has stopped the government's transportation mask requirement for now. 2The study by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that despite strong feelings against that requirement 56 percent of Americans favor requiring masks for people on planes, trains and public transportation. 3There have been arguments and physical violence against flight attendants who asked airline travelers to wear masks. Those against the requirement made up 24 percent of the people studied. 4Researchers talked with people around the country from Thursday through Monday. Then, a federal judge in Florida ruled that the national mask requirement on airplanes and mass transit was "unlawful." Airlines and airports immediately ended their requirements that passengers wear face coverings. 5The Transportation Security Administration stopped enforcing the mask requirement. The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that it will not appeal the ruling unless the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is still necessary. 6The study shows a wide divide by political parties on the issue. Among Democrats, 80 percent favor and just 5 percent oppose the requirement. Among Republicans, 45 percent are opposed compared with 33 percent in favor, with 22 percent saying they had no feelings either way. 7Vicki Pettus recently moved from Frankfort, Kentucky, to Clearwater, Florida, to be near her grandchildren. She said she enjoys the beauty of the area, but does not like the "very lackadaisical attitude" by Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, about masking. She said she will continue to wear her mask to protect against the coronavirus, including around her community and on the plane when she travels. 8But Kriste Lee, who works in sales in South Florida, wants to fly mask-free when she travels next month. Lee said nobody is stopping anyone from wearing masks if they want to. She is not vaccinated. 9The continued support among Americans overall for mandating masks on transportation comes even as worries about COVID-19 are at their lowest points of the past two years. Just 20 percent now say they are "very or extremely worried" they or a family member could be infected. That has gone down sharply since December. Another 33 percent now say they are "somewhat worried," while 48 percent say they are not worried at all. 10Betty Harp is an 84-year old in Leitchfield, Kentucky. She is "very worried" after losing a lot of friends and family to the virus. 11COVID is still here 12"I know COVID is still here. It's still around," said Harp. She says she is a Republican-leaning independent. "I think we should all be wearing masks for a little while longer." 13The study also shows about half of Americans favor requiring masks for workers who face the public. Support is similar for requiring people at crowded public events such as sporting events and movies to wear masks. 14On these questions there are similar political party differences. Seventy-two percent of Democrats favor requiring people attending crowded public events to wear masks. Twenty-five percent of Republicans are in favor and 49 percent are opposed to requiring public-facing employees to wear face coverings. 15The AP-NORC poll of 1,085 adults took place from April 14-18 using a group of people designed to be representative of the United States population. 16I'm Jill Robbins. 17Dave Kolpack reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. 18__________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20mask - n. a face covering 21despite - prep. without being prevented by (something) - used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true 22favor - v. approval, support, or popularity 23lackadaisical - adj. easy-going 24mandate - v. an official order to do something 25lean - v. to tend toward something 26What do you think about wearing masks on crowded public transportation? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.