Essential Report
Effectiveness of face masks
Q. In your opinion, how effective are face masks or coverings at preventing the spread of Covid-19?
Gender | Age group | ||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
Very effective | 19% | 21% | 17% | 22% | 19% | 16% | |
Quite effective | 46% | 43% | 49% | 40% | 47% | 51% | |
Not that effective | 20% | 22% | 17% | 24% | 19% | 17% | |
Not effective at all | 5% | 7% | 4% | 5% | 7% | 4% | |
Unsure | 10% | 7% | 13% | 8% | 9% | 12% | |
Base (n) | 1,058 | 538 | 520 | 341 | 331 | 386 | |
State | |||||||
Total | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ||
Very effective | 19% | 18% | 19% | 20% | 19% | 13% | |
Quite effective | 46% | 49% | 56% | 34% | 43% | 42% | |
Not that effective | 20% | 19% | 14% | 24% | 25% | 26% | |
Not effective at all | 5% | 4% | 5% | 10% | 2% | 6% | |
Unsure | 10% | 11% | 6% | 13% | 12% | 13% | |
Base (n) | 1,058 | 352 | 239 | 220 | 88 | 110 | |
- There is widespread belief that using face masks can reduce the spread of the virus, 19% think they are very effective and 46% quite effective. Just 5% thinking they are not effective at all effective in preventing the spread of Covid-19.
- Victorians are most likely to believe masks are effective at preventing the spread of Covid-19 with 19% believing they are ‘very effective’ and 56% saying ‘quite effective’.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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