Pandemic fatigue affecting mitigation efforts

Editor's Note

This study, led by researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, analyzed survey responses from 7,705 participants between April 1 and November 24, 2020, on their attitudes and resistance toward COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

All US regions experienced decreases in COVID-19 mitigation efforts during this time period, with adherence in the final survey week significantly lower in the Midwest than all other regions.

Protective behaviors that resulted in the largest decreases were:

• remaining in residence except for essential activities or exercise—from 79.6% to 41.1%
• having no close contact with non-household members—from 63.5% to 37.8%
• having no visitors over—from 80.3% to 57.6%
• avoiding eating at restaurants—from 87.3% to 65.8%.

Wearing of a mask or other face covering increased significantly from 39.2% to 88.6%.

Additional research is needed to understand the differential effect of mitigation efforts in reducing COVID-19 transmission and to inform where policy interventions and public health messaging may be most effective, the researchers say.