New survey: How many Tri-Citians are wearing masks

A Benton Franklin Health District survey looking at how many people are wearing masks in public in the Tri-Cities may show better compliance than some people expected.

The local health district has started the first of what are planned to be weekly surveys of the percentage of people wearing masks in public places.

Results of the first survey are not expected to be released until Friday, but Dr. Amy Person said some of those surveying are reporting more than 50% of people wearing masks in some locations surveyed.

Dr. Amy Person, the health officer for Benton and Franklin counties, spoke on the Kadlec on Call podcast and at a news media briefing.

When similar surveys were started in Yakima County in May it found only 35% of people wearing masks, with that increasing to 65% in a survey over the past weekend.

Although Dr. Person said she expects to be pleasantly surprised by the percentage of people wearing masks compared to where Yakima started, but that the number of people wearing masks will need to increase.

Experts have said that at least 80% of people need to be wearing masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus among people in public places.

Counties across the state where wearing masks is more widely accepted have lower disease rates, Dr. Person said.

Washington state Department of Health officials have said they want to see more people in the Tri-Cities area wearing masks as they consider Benton and Franklin county applications to move to Phase 2 of reopening businesses and allowing small gatherings.

Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties are the only three in the state not yet approved to move to Phase 1.5, Phase 2, or Phase 3 of reopening.

Amended applications from Benton and Franklin counties said the health district would start weekly observational surveys to determine the percentage of people wearing masks.

The state of Washington is requiring most people to wear masks in public across the state starting Friday, June 26. A Benton and Franklin county order has made masks mandatory since June 8.

Dr. Person said she was pleased to see city and county leaders — plus retired Gen. Jim Mattis, the former U.S. defense secretary — encouraging Tri-Citians to wear masks.

“We are really seeing people showing that they are ready to take the steps that are necessary to move forward,” she said.

Public health officials are urging people not only to wear masks in public, such as during necessary grocery shopping , but to avoid large gatherings.

Person-to-person contact in the community is responsible for the majority of cases locally, said Rick Dawson, a manager for the local helath district.

“They are coming from everywhere,” he said.

Gatherings, whether softball tournaments, volleyball tournaments, weddings in the park or protests, have the potential to contribute, he said.

This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 4:37 PM.