Change in Reported Adherence to Nonpharmaceutical Interventions During the COVID-19 Pandemic, April-November 2020

Abstract

This study uses national survey data to describe overall and regional trends in adherence to protective behaviors (mask wearing, physical distancing, staying at home, others) among US adults during the COVID-19 pandemic from April to November 2020.

Figure 1.. Adherence to Protective Behaviors in the US During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Among 7705 Adults, April-November 2020

Weighted and adjusted percentages of Coronavirus Tracking Survey (CTS) participants reporting adherence to protective behaviors are reported. Behaviors are ordered from greatest decrease to greatest increase across the study period. Error bars indicate 95% CIs. ^aStatistically significant difference between results in late November and early April (P < .001). ^bQuestion language in CTS assesses a risky behavior and has been negated in study to represent a protective behavior (eg, reportedly went to a gathering with 10 or more people is framed as not having reported such behavior). ^cQuestion language in CTS prompted “Which of the following have you done in the last seven days to keep yourself safe from coronavirus? Only consider actions that you took or decisions that you made personally.” ^dQuestion language in CTS includes examples of gatherings, such as a reunion, wedding, funeral, birthday party, concert, or religious service.

Figure 2.. Adherence to Protective Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) in the US During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, April-November 2020

The NPI adherence index ranges from 0 to 100. This index is the sum of reported adherence to 16 protective behaviors in the 7 days prior to survey completion. A higher score indicates better adherence. Mean values weighted for representativeness and adjusted by linear regression for sociodemographics and new COVID-19 cases are shown.