Should the government require people to wear face masks in public during the COVID pandemic?

Name: Should the government require people to wear face masks in public during the COVID pandemic? — Public Opinion Poll Results
Creator: iSideWith
License: https://uk.isidewith.com/terms-of-use
Keywords: Should the government require people to wear face masks in public during the COVID pandemic?, Healthcare, public opinion, poll results, survey

In 2020 face masks were mandated by certain countries as a control measure against the spread of SARS-CoV-2. As of early May 2020, 88% of the world's population lived in countries that recommend or mandated the use of masks in public. Opponents argue that masks do little to combat the virus since most people do not wear them properly. Proponents argue that a mask mandate would help stop the spread of CV19 and prevent tens of thousands of deaths.

▲Answer Discuss Knowledge check •••+ My feed React Report Follow

Answer Overview

Response rates from 1.8k UK voters.

84% Yes	16% No
70% Yes	11% No
9% Yes, but only indoors or crowded areas	3% No, the government should recommend it but not require it
5% Yes, except for certain medical conditions	2% No, we should let the virus naturally run its course

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 1.8k UK voters.

Loading data...

Loading chart...

Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 1.8k UK voters.

Loading data...

Loading chart...

Latest News

Stay up-to-date on the most recent “COVID Mask Mandate” news articles, updated frequently.

@ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

AstraZeneca pulls COVID-19 vaccine

According to media, opens new tab reports, the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker has previously admitted in court documents that the vaccine causes side-effects such as blood clots and low blood platelet counts.The firm's application to withdraw the vaccine was made on March 5 and came into effect on May 7, according to the Telegraph, which first reported the development.London-listed AstraZeneca began moving into respiratory syncytial virus vaccines and obesity drugs through several deals last year after a slowdown in growth as COVID-19 medicine sales declined.

@ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

First arrest made in NYC law banning face masks

Police in the suburbs of New York City made the first arrest under a new local law banning face masks, officials announced Tuesday.Nassau County Police say officers on Sunday night responded to reports of a suspicious person on a street near the Levittown and Hicksville town line, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Manhattan.They found Wesslin Omar Ramirez Castillo wearing black clothing and a black ski mask that covered his face, except for his eyes.The department said the 18-year-old resident displayed other suspicious behavior, including attempting to conceal a large bulge in his waistband and refusing to comply with the officers’ commands.Officers say the bulge turned out to be a 14-inch knife. Ramirez Castillo was placed under arrest without further incident, police said.Lt. Scott Skrynecki, a police department spokesperson, said Ramirez Castillo will also be facing a misdemeanor violation of the face mask law in the coming days.

Popular Conversations

Join in on the most popular conversations.

Active 3 days ago

@ISIDEWITH asked…2yrs2Y

Should the government allow the commercialization of lab-grown meat?

Lab-grown meat is produced by culturing animal cells and could serve as an alternative to traditional livestock farming. Proponents argue that it can reduce environmental impact and animal suffering, and improve food security. Opponents argue that it may face public resistance and unknown long-term…

▲ 46.8k351 replies

@ISIDEWITH submitted…2mos2MO

Trump’s Iran War Shatters US-European Alliances, Leaving NATO Fractured and Isolated

A major rift has emerged between the United States and its traditional European allies as President Donald Trump’s war in Iran drags on. European countries, including France, Spain, Italy, and the UK, have refused to support US military operations, denied access to bases, and criticized Trump’s aggressive…

▲ 113 replies

@ISIDEWITH submitted…2mos2MO

Middle East on Edge: Iran, Israel, and US Locked in Escalating Conflict as Diplomacy Falters

Tensions in the Middle East have reached a critical point, with ongoing hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Despite intermittent ceasefires, violence continues, particularly with Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and a standoff in the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomatic efforts, including…

▲ 515 replies

@ISIDEWITH submitted…4mos4MO

Epstein Scandal Threatens to Topple British Monarchy as Calls for Royal Accountability Intensify

The British monarchy is facing an unprecedented crisis as the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal deepens, with US Congressman Ro Khanna and other lawmakers warning that the royal family's future is at risk. Prince Andrew's ties to Epstein have reignited public outrage, leading to plummeting support…

▲ 56 replies

Active 2mos ago

@ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...…6yrs6Y

Should critical race theory be taught in K-12 education?

No

▲ 19.8k6 replies4 agree1 disagree

Active 1mo ago

@ISIDEWITH asked…3yrs3Y

How do you feel when you hear languages you don't understand, and why do you think you feel that way?

▲ 3.6k2.9k replies

About This Data

Based on 1.8k responses to this question.

These results come from iSideWith's ongoing political issues survey. We collect over a million responses per day, filter out duplicate and multiple submissions, and break the results down by political party, ideology, age, state, and census demographics (income, race, education, household).

iSideWith is non-partisan — we don't advocate for any party, candidate, or position. We report what the public tells us.

Read Our Full Methodology →

Cite Or Embed This Poll

Writing about this issue? Use the live data and link back to the full results.

Cite This Poll

iSideWith. (2026). “Should the government require people to wear face masks in public during the COVID pandemic?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://uk.isidewith.com/polls/4415223109

Embed The Live Result

<iframe src="https://uk.isidewith.com/polls/4415223109/embed" width="100%" height="300" style="max-width:540px;border:0" loading="lazy" title="Should the government require people to wear face masks in public during the COVID pandemic? &mdash; iSideWith Poll"></iframe>
<p style="font:13px sans-serif;margin:.4em 0"><a href="https://uk.isidewith.com/polls/4415223109">Should the government require people to wear face masks in public during the COVID pandemic? &mdash; iSideWith Poll</a></p>