Arguments in favor of mask requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

This page captures the main arguments that have been advanced in favor of mask requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.

There are five main types of arguments for mask requirements:

• Masks reduce airborne spread of coronavirus
• Mask requirements are good for the economy
• Mask laws are justified to promote public health
• Mask mandates should apply statewide
• Masks reduce the intensity of COVID-19 infection and sickness

Click here to read about arguments against mask requirements.

Masks reduce airborne spread of coronavirus

Claim: Masks are needed until herd immunity is achieved through vaccination

• David Wohl, infectious disease specialist at UNC in Chapel Hill (The State): "Fifty percent is great, but we really need much more than that to prevent the kind of surge that is being predicted in this model. ... A highly infectious virus could run quickly through a susceptible population, and the viruses we’re seeing emerge are evolving to become more infectious. What we’re seeing in other parts of the world with huge surges among unvaccinated people is because the virus is different and more aggressive." - "NC researchers say keeping masks on will prevent thousands of additional COVID cases," June 4, 2021.

Claim: Masks effectively decrease the spread of air-borne particles that carry Covid-19

• The Union-Bulletin Editorial Board (Union-Bulletin): 

  "Wearing a mask is a very tiny sacrifice for stopping the spread of this disease. Leading scientists — including Fauci — are convinced that if the vast majority of Americans wore masks, infections would slow dramatically. And just recently it has been learned that mask wearing not only stops you from spreading the disease to others, it also does more to protect you than first thought. Again, science evolves with new information." - "New evidence shows wearing a mask can also help you," November 16, 2020.

• St. Louis Post Dispatch Editorial Board (St. Louis Post Dispatch): The St. Louis Post Dispatch Editorial Board discussed an instance in which two hairstylists worked while infected with coronavirus and had contact with up to 140 clients and six co-workers.

  "Amazingly, none of those exposed tested positive or displayed symptoms after being placed on a two-week watch during the normal incubation period for the virus. One factor that might have figured heavily in this remarkable result: All staffers and clients had been required to wear masks, which help reduce the airborne transmission of tiny droplets exhaled by infected people." - "Editorial: Strong evidence that masks really help contain the contagion," June 9, 2020.

• Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial Board (Richmond Times-Dispatch): "When people don’t cover their faces in public, they’re posing a threat to the health of others. Wearing a mask offers a simple solution to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus during this public health crisis." - "Editorial: Wear a mask and help contain COVID-19," May 26, 2020.

• Maria Godoy (NPR): "Researchers emphasize there are two main reasons to wear masks. There's some evidence of protection for the wearer, but the stronger evidence is that masks protect others from catching an infection from the person wearing the mask. And infected people can spread the virus just by talking." - "Yes, Wearing Masks Helps. Here's Why," June 21, 2020.

• Dr. Yifang Zhu (FOX 11): "To minimize the infection risk of aerosol transmission, stricter mitigation measures should be adopted for indoor environments, which are more likely to be enclosed and crowded" - "UCLA study touts effectiveness of masks in reducing COVID-19 spread," November 11, 2020.

Claim: People can be infected with COVID-19 and have no symptoms, so mask-wearing protects asymptomatic spread of the virus

• German Lopez (Vox): "[Universal mask-wearing is] especially important for Covid-19, since at least some spread happens when people are asymptomatic, when they have few symptoms, or before they develop symptoms. Universal mask use could stop these asymptomatic carriers — many of whom might not even know they’re sick — from inadvertently infecting other people." - "The evidence for everyone wearing masks, explained," May 31, 2020.

Claim: People should wear masks to be polite

• Paul Sax, clinical director of the division of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (The Washington Post): "There are going to be people who, for a while, feel uncomfortable being outside without a mask. Any changes we make with relation to this pandemic are going to take some adjustment." - "Should I wear a mask outside? Experts weigh in on scenarios.," April 22, 2021.

• Jason Laughlin and Laura McCrystal (The Philadelphia Inquirer): "Masks have moved beyond a public health precaution to become variously a courtesy, an indicator of solidarity, a symbol of respect for science -- or a sign of reluctant acquiescence to government control." - "After a year of pandemic, wearing masks outdoors is up for debate," April 22, 2021.

Claim: Data from months of COVID-19 tracking indicates jurisdictions with mask mandates had reduced virus cases compared to jurisdictions with no mandates

• Kansas City Star Editorial Board (The Kansas City Star): "The state’s 15 counties with mandatory mask orders — including Wyandotte and Johnson counties in the Kansas City area — have seen a greater decline in coronavirus cases than the remaining 90 counties that don’t mandate them. Since July 12, not long after counties were given the option of accepting or rejecting Gov. Laura Kelly’s mask mandate, those with mask orders have seen cases decline from about 26 to 16 per 100,000 population. Cases in counties with no mask mandate have stayed relatively flat." - "Kansas tested whether mask mandates decrease COVID-19 cases. The results were clear," August 10, 2020.

Mask requirements are good for the economy

Claim: If people wear masks in public, businesses can reopen more quickly without causing spikes in COVID-19 cases

• Los Angeles Times Editorial Board (Los Angeles Times): 

  "The pandemic is far from over. We’re facing another round of economically damaging lockdowns unless the virus can be controlled until, and even after, a vaccine is approved for use and there are enough doses available for every American who wants one. At this moment, the best way to do that is by widespread adherence to social distancing and face mask guidelines as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." - "Editorial: Mask up or lock down," October 30, 2020.

• Coachella CA Valley Independent Editorial Board (Coachella Valley CA Independent): "Masks can help retail, offices and restaurants keep their doors open. But due to horrific leadership from the top, misguided business lobbying and public intimidation, local mandates are being revoked or just not followed—if there are local mandates at all. Since nothing’s ever going to happen at the federal level, that leaves the state. . . Gov. Newsom, it’s time to save lives and give California’s reopening process its best chance of success by enacting a statewide mask order." - "The State Needs to Mandate the Use of Face Masks," June 16, 2020.

• Salt Lake City Tribune Editorial Board (The Salt Lake Tribue): "If you want to restart the economy, reopen businesses, reduce unemployment, avoid evictions and foreclosures and get the kids back to school, it’s the best trick we have right now." - "Tribune Editorial: Want to reopen Utah? Wear a mask.," June 27, 2020.

• Dr. Elaine Batchlor (Los Angeles Sentinel): "Not only do you protect others when you wear a mask over your nose and mouth, but your chance of catching the virus if you are exposed drops 65%. In fact, if 80% of people wore their masks, we could reopen stores and businesses. Yet many people, especially young people, are still not wearing masks consistently." - "Masks are the fastest way back to jobs and school," September 10, 2020.

Claim: Mask wearing can reduce the necessity of government responses that are more harmful to the economy, such as stay-at-home orders

• Goldman Sachs (Forbes): A Goldman Sachs analysis said that a national mask mandate could reduce the need for state lockdowns and, ultimately, save the U.S. economy $1 trillion.

  "If a face mask mandate meaningfully lowers coronavirus infections, it could be valuable not only from a public health perspective but also from an economic perspective because it could substitute for renewed lockdowns that would otherwise hit GDP." - "A National Mask Mandate Could Save The U.S. Economy $1 Trillion, Goldman Sachs Says," June 30, 2020.

Claim: Masks give consumers more confidence and make them more active

• Jonathan Lansner (Orange County Register): 

  "The mask you either don or despise is not just good for your health, it’s essential for the economy, too. Let’s assume a key goal of reopening the economy from the pandemic lockdown is building a platform for a robust rebound. That means creating ideal business conditions. So, making masks mandatory in public places — especially where business is conducted — is pretty simple because, hey, “It’s the economy, stupid!” Please understand that a good chunk of the population favors masks and other health-conscious measures by merchants and consumers, seeing them as critical tools to post-virus shopping. These allegedly “controversial” health measures actually matter to many people. Businesses not taking customer safety seriously should note that 62% of Americans will skip your store, according to the Ipsos poll." - "Wear a mask. Why? It’s for the economy, stupid!," June 16, 2020.

Mask laws are justified to promote public health

Claim: Public health concerns supersede personal objections to wearing masks

• Dr. Ron Saff, board member of Physicians for Social Responsibility (FL) (Tallahassee Democrat): "Those refusing to wear a mask while in a crowded indoor public space are not protecting their neighbors and fellow citizens — and are thus not demonstrating patriotism, are not following the Golden Rule, and plainly are implying their own minor inconvenience of wearing a face mask is more important than others’ right to minimize their risk of contracting a too-often fatal disease." - "Florida needs an executive order requiring wearing of face masks," June 15, 2020.

• Palm Beach Post Editorial Board (Palm Beach Post): "No, this isn’t overreach by the government. No, it’s not unconstitutional. And no, it’s not a question of your personal rights being taken away. It’s well-established law that elected officials have the right — no, the responsibility — to take actions to protect public health. To require masks is not, as critics charged, to meddle in one’s personal business. It’s primarily to protect others." - "Wear That Mask!," June 26, 2020.

Additional reading

• "Necessary or needless? Three months into the pandemic, Americans are divided on wearing masks" - NBC News, June 17, 2020

Mask mandates should apply statewide

Claim: Leaving mask regulations to local jurisdictions is inadequate to contain virus spread and protect public health. Mandates should be applied statewide

• Sioux City Journal Editorial Board (Sioux City Journal): "a patchwork of local mandates isn't good enough - even if [IA Gov. Reynolds] permitted it. No, we believe what is required in Iowa is a statewide mandate for use of face masks in public." - "OUR OPINION: It's time for face mask mandate in Iowa," September 6, 2020.

Masks reduce the intensity of COVID-19 infection and sickness

Claim: Wearing a mask does not completely protect against a COVID-19 infection, but data indicates that wearing a mask decreases the level of infection and harmful health impacts

• Monica Gandhi, MD (University of California San Francisco): "Masks can prevent many infections altogether, as was seen in health care workers when we moved to universal masking. We’re also saying that masks, which filter out a majority of viral particles, can lead to a less severe infection if you do get one. If you get infected, but have no symptoms – that’s the best way you can ever get a virus." - "One More Reason to Wear a Mask: You’ll Get Less Sick From COVID-19," July 31, 2020.

See also

• Arguments against mask requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021]]
• Taxonomy of arguments about mask requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
• Documenting America's Path to Recovery