COVID-19 `Fatigue' Causing Drop in Some Protective Measures, Study Finds

A sign advises people to maintain social distancing, July 16, 2020, in Huntington Beach, Calif., amid the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

LOS ANGELES—COVID-19 “fatigue” is having a negative effect on some protective measures that people take to guard against the coronavirus—although mask-wearing is up, according to a new University of Southern California (USC) survey.

Protective measures such as avoiding close contact with non-household members and staying home are waning as the pandemic drags on, the study reported.