Americans' face mask usage varies greatly by demographics
Gallup has been measuring U.S. adults' use of face masks since early April and has found nearly nine in 10 say they have used one in the past week. Yet, new data on how often masks are being used reveals that less than half of Americans are heeding health officials' guidance and always covering their nose and mouth when in public, especially when social distancing is difficult to maintain.
Forty-four percent of U.S. adults say they "always" wear a mask when outside their homes, and 28 percent say they do so "very often." At the same time, three in 10 report doing so less often, including 11 percent "sometimes," 4 percent "rarely" and 14 percent "never."