# I'm in an area where mask usage has been minimal. State has decreed mandatory mask usage next Monday **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [July 24, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171 "2020-07-24T01:30:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/1 "2020-07-24T01:30:20Z")
The company I work for has decreed that we will comply with the state mandate. I’m cool with that. I have been wearing one while shopping in public but not at work. Out of about 200 employees, there have been 1 or 2 that have been wearing a mask at work. Starting Monday we will all be wearing masks at work. I’m kind of relieved. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/2 "2020-07-24T01:34:47Z")
Good on them. Let us know how the transition goes. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/3 "2020-07-24T01:44:14Z")
Indiana? I’m sure it won’t be enforced and all the right wingers will intentionally violate it. Luckily a lot of grocery stores here are mandating masks now. Meijer, Walmart, Kroger, Aldi all have mask mandates. Other than the grocery store, I’m almost never indoors with other people. Supposedly the virus doesn’t transmit well outdoors. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/4 "2020-07-24T03:30:42Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Luckily a lot of grocery stores here are mandating masks now. Meijer, Walmart, Kroger, Aldi all have mask mandates. Do they enforce them? Some stores here do; others post the signs but don’t stop people not wearing masks. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/5 "2020-07-24T03:31:24Z")
So far I’m noticing about 90% compliance rates around me. Which is good. ---
**Author:** ![RealityCheck71](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitycheck71/32/3493_2.png) [@RealityCheck71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityCheck71)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/6 "2020-07-24T03:48:30Z")
Around here, I never saw majority mask wearing in big stores but physically distancing was good. We just went mask law and it went off without a hitch. Every retailer seems to have the mask signs up and people are complying. Eta: some sloppiness and jerkitude here and there, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/7 "2020-07-26T02:51:36Z")
Ohio Governor just mandated mask use. Every store I went to today had full compliance. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/8 "2020-07-27T16:49:38Z")
The company I work for just said we have to wear masks unless we’re at our desks. Desks are already 6+ feet apart. Everyone was already required to wear a mask in the elevators so it’s not that much different. Now we have to wear them while getting coffee, using the restroom, nuking lunch, stuff like that. Some already were doing that and so far I haven’t heard anyone complaining. About half the company is still working from home, I’m assuming the anti-maskers will just stay home. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/9 "2020-08-09T01:29:58Z")
Be cautious that not all masks are cut from the same cloth, So to speak. > **[Researchers created a test to determine which masks are the least effective |...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/08/us/duke-university-face-mask-test-trnd/index.html)** > > Schools are reopening, amusement parks are welcoming back visitors, and outdoor dining is the new way to eat out. But despite the signs that life is returning back to normal, the coronavirus pandemic has gone nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![Tierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/10 "2020-08-09T20:38:35Z")
I saw that Duke study go by on Facebook, and was interested because I wear a neck gaiter for some activities. They seem to be focused solely on counting droplets. I wonder how directly that corresponds to effectiveness in blocking virus transmission, though. Suppose the gaiter fabric turns one large droplet into five small droplets, each of which is one tenth the size of the original. Is that: - Worse than nothing, because there are five times as many droplets? - Better than nothing, because there’s half the amount of spittle and presumably half the amount of virus? - Worse than nothing, because the large droplet would fall to the ground quickly but the smaller ones could remain airborne for longer? - Better or worse due to other factors that don’t come to mind right now? It seems like they’re answering a simple question that’s part of a much more complex situation. Maybe someone with better study-reading chops than mine can enlighten? ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-an-area-where-mask-usage-has-been-minimal-state-has-decreed-mandatory-mask-usage-next-monday/916171/11 "2020-08-11T04:52:26Z")
> [@Tierce](#): > > Worse than nothing, because the large droplet would fall to the ground quickly but the smaller ones could remain airborne for longer? I think this is the problem. They’re saying it creates a microdroplet or aerosol cloud that can float around instead of fall to the ground.