KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A vast majority of Jackson County residents who participated in the county’s online COVID-19 survey would be willing to wear masks in public, if required.
That’s among the major takeaways from the county’s survey of 9,500 people, the results of which were published Monday on the county website.
Nearly 83% of respondents would be willing to wear a mask in public for health and safety reasons, but significant apprehension remains about mass-gatherings and traveling.
More than one-third of respondents said they wouldn’t feel comfortable attending a sporting event, visiting the convention center, using public transportation or going to the airport unless a COVID-19 vaccine has been developed and is widely available.
Only 22 to 27% of respondents said they’d feel comfortable with those activities today with no restrictions, while 37 to 43% said modifications — social-distancing, enhancing cleaning and other factors — would need to be in place for them to engage in those activities.
The only place included in the survey where more than half of all respondents — nearly 53% — felt comfortable going right now was parks and other outdoor spaces.
Work wasn’t far behind with nearly 45% of respondents indicating they currently would feel safe returning to work with another one-third of respondents feeling comfortable with some adjustments for social-distancing, wearing masks and other common mitigation efforts.
There seemed to be a stark contrast in feelings toward restaurants, where 30% feel safe going now and another 54% would feel safe with common mitigation efforts, and bars, where nearly 32% would only feel safe going if a vaccine was in place.
