Despite appeals by government and health officials for persons to wear masks or facial shields when shopping among other persons, a majority of Chattanooga grocery shoppers visiting local supermarkets this week did not wear any facial covering, according to a sampling of shoppers at 18 Chattanooga grocery stores.
Among 737 shoppers surveyed Sunday through Wednesday at local Food City, Walmart, Publix, Whole Foods, Aldi, Target and Sav-A-Lot stores, less than 42% were wearing masks while shopping for groceries.
“To me as long as we’re practicing social distancing, I don’t need to wear a mask in public unless I was feeling sick or coughing,” said Terence Bragg, who didn’t wear a mask while shopping at the Hixson Publix store Wednesday. “I have a mask, but I’m not wearing it all the time.”
Many Chattanooga shoppers are wearing masks to help limit the spread of the coronavirus or to help protect themselves from being exposed to the COVID-19 virus.
(READ MORE: How to stay safe at Chattanooga grocery stores during the coronavirus crisis)