Leading public health authorities all but beg people to wear them. Local, state and federal government officials are imploring, and in two-thirds of states, mandating, citizens to don them in public. Even the most mask-averse potential “role model,” President Donald Trump, has intermittently been seen with one.

The public, according to research polls, itself signals support for government-imposed mask mandates and most people say they are themselves wearing masks to protect others and, to some extent, themselves, from the deadly coronavirus.

Yet surveys by researchers make clear that large numbers of people continue to eschew masks in public, even in locales where they risk misdemeanor charges. As well, videos continue to pop up on the internet showing a handful of shoppers pitching tantrums — or even worse, physically threatening or attacking employees — when told that mask-wearing is mandatory in businesses.

As public health groups and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden push for a federal mask mandate, state and local officials have approved a bevy of regulations to bolster their initial mask mandates.

In Illinois, where a mask mandate was first imposed in May, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law this month making it a felony to assault retail workers “conveying public health guidance,” such as requiring customers to wear masks or practice social distancing. Pritzker also issued a rule penalizing businesses that don’t enforce mask requirements with fines of up to $2,500.

“We know that face coverings are key to helping prevent the spread of COVID-19, but it only works if everyone wears them,” said Ngozi Ezike, who directs the state’s Public Health Department.

Several local governments in California have made businesses and residents subject to fines for not adhering to the statewide mask mandate. After seeing a spike in coronavirus cases, Yolo County code officers can now fine businesses up to $10,000 for not complying with health orders, including not wearing a mask. Likewise, in the city of Glendale, failing to wear a mask in public spaces can cost individuals up to $2,000 for a third violation.

Throughout the summer, several polls have signaled that most adults in the U.S. support government mandates and say they use masks when out in public. The Pew Research Center reported in June that 65% of respondents said that they had worn a mask in stores or other businesses all or most of the time over the course of the month. In July, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll said that 75% of respondents — including 89% of Democrats and 58% of Republicans — favored wearing face coverings while outside their homes.

However, researchers at USC also found that even though mask-wearing seems to be widespread, “many people have not been wearing them according to recommended guidelines.” The Times observed the behavior of individuals in three major intersections in Southern California and found many people do not wear masks in crowded outdoor spaces — even though failing to wear a mask in public has been a misdemeanor in the state since June.

To date, at least 33 states require the use of masks in public, according to Masks4All, which advocates for the use of cloth masks. Most other states leave face covering regulations up to municipalities. That includes Georgia, whose governor, Brian Kemp, recently withdrew a lawsuit against Atlanta’s mayor and City Council in an effort to block restrictions to combat the coronavirus, including a citywide mask mandate.

But mandates don’t always protect essential workers from abuse.

In mid-August, a man in Tucson, Arizona, shouted obscenities at employees and other customers at a supermarket after being asked to wear a mask. To keep the conflict from escalating, his son picked him up and carried him out of the store. Tucson’s mayor had issued a proclamation requiring face coverings in public settings in June.

Utah is among the fewer than 20 states without a statewide mask mandate. Instead, the state government set up an online portal that enabled all residents to request up to six high-quality masks per mailing address — completely free of charge.

“We wanted the masks to be nice, so that people could feel proud wearing them,” said Ben Hart, deputy director at the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Within weeks of launching the initiative, the state government had about a million online orders in a state with about 3.2 million residents.

With the help of the National Guard and religious organizations, state officials also targeted its most vulnerable populations. Masks were distributed to nonprofit groups serving the homeless and delivering meals to the hungry. The “A Mask for Every Utahn” initiative also prioritized residents over the age of 65, those with preexisting health conditions, those who do not speak English as a first language, refugees and those who do not earn a living wage.

“That was really critical,” said Hart, “because you can mandate wearing a mask all day long. You can fine people. You can get into a fight. You can confront them on the street. But if they don’t have the money to get a mask, it doesn’t matter.”