High rates of observed face mask use at Colorado universities align with students’ opinions about masking and support the safety and viability of in-person higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic

Table 1 Observed counts and percentages of persons wearing face masks and wearing them correctly at Colorado Universities, by selected characteristics; Feb. 15–Apr. 11, 2021.

Characteristic	CU Boulder		CSU		National Aggregate
Overall mask use	2,808*		3,225*		100,353*
Mask Worn	2,492	88.7%	3,138	97.3%	94,280	93.9%
Mask Worn Correctly	2,229	79.4%	2,970	92.1%	86,238	85.9%
Type of mask
Cloth	1,577	63.3%	2,165	69.0%	57,975	61.5%
Surgical§	776	31.1%	853	27.2%	29,297	31.1%
Gaiter	65	2.6%	71	2.3%	3,989	4.2%
N95 type	70	2.8%	45	1.4%	2,732	2.9%
Other	4	0.2%	4	0.1%	285	0.3%
Location
Indoors	1,299	46.3%	3,097	96.0%	72,075	71.8%
Outdoors	1,509	53.7%	128	4.0%	28,278	28.2%
Campus
On campus	2,000	71.2%	3,097	96.0%	82,528	82.2%
Nearby, off campus	808	28.8%	128	4.0%	17,825	17.8%

* All “unknown” observations were excluded. “Unknown” was reported if it could not be determined if the person was wearing a mask or not i.e., if the observer could only see the back of the person’s head.
§ KN95 type masks would be classified as surgical in our training materials, with N95 type capturing respirators with straps that go around the head.

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