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Short survey shows divide over masks in Northeast Ohio

Posted at 6:59 PM, Jul 09, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-09 23:36:10-04

CLEVELAND — At News 5, we wanted to know, how do you feel when you hear the word mask?

Does it make you feel calm? Anxious? Frustrated? Angry?

We asked six questions like: "Do you think masks should be worn inside?"

News 5 met viewers in Public Square after work and in the morning during their walk at Edgewater Park.

When Davon Brantley took the survey, he picked the same answer for most questions.

"Understanding,” he said. “Because it's just a mask to me. I don't really get frustrated over the fact that I have to wear it inside certain areas."

Sitting at Public Square, Brantley answered questions with Lauren Webster while she took a break from painting one of the installations in the middle of the square.

"It's becoming a normal part of our outfits it seems,” Webster said about wearing a mask.

The short survey was also posted online.

About 450 people answered the questions. Here are some of the biggest takeaways:

When asked “Do you think a mask should be worn outside?” 83 percent of people who answered said no, they don’t think masks should be worn outside.

"I'm not against it completely, personally, I just think wearing the mask would do much of a difference,” Jeannie Maldonado said.

She’s not alone. She was at Edgewater Park with Jason Maldonado, who agrees.

"I do keep a spare mask on me in case I do need to wear it,” he said. “But, for the most time if I don't have to I'm not wearing it.”

News 5 also wanted to know if you think the new directive from Gov. Mike DeWine putting a mask mandate in place in counties with high community spread. More than 60 percent of people said it is a bad idea.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Brantley said. “Mainly it cuts the risk for us. It cuts down on the pandemic so we aren’t further closing things.”

"It can get annoying but I understand why we'd have to wear it for longer,” Webster said.

Expectedly, everyone feels differently.

"The virus doesn't really hold me back from going out,” Jason Maldonado said. “I’m not too concerned about catching it."

See the survey's complete results and responses from survey-takers below. Warning: Some of the responses may contain profanity.

Report News 5 Mask Questions by Wews WebStaff on Scribd