9 in 10 Adults Now Report Social Distancing (92%), Up From 6 in 10 Two Weeks Ago; Previous Partisan Divide has Disappeared

5 years ago

Americans, Regardless of Partisan Identity, Prioritize Slowing Coronavirus’ Spread over Restarting the Economy

With coronavirus cases rising and businesses shutting down, four in 10 (39%) U.S. residents say they already have lost a job or income due to the crisis, the latest KFF Health Tracking Poll finds. This includes most part-time workers (54%), as well as nearly half of parents with children under age 18 (47%) and those paid hourly or by the job (45%).

A large majority (82%) also report that they are sheltering-in-place and not leaving their homes except for essential needs such as food and medical care as most states have ordered or recommend. And nearly everyone (92%) now reports some kind of social distancing, such as cancelling travel plans and not attending large gatherings – up from 59% two weeks ago.

Fielded March 25-30, the poll finds that Americans are already reporting significant pandemic-related problems as the crisis disrupts their lives and threatens their health and finances:

• Nearly half (45%) say that worry and stress related to coronavirus is affecting their mental health – up from 32% two weeks ago. About one in five (19%) say the situation has had a “major impact” on their mental health – including about a quarter of women, Hispanic adults and black adults.
• One-third (34%) say they have been unable to get needed medical care unrelated to coronavirus. A quarter (24%) say they were unable to get prescription medications.
• Overall 72% of the public say the pandemic has disrupted their lives – up 32 percentage points from two weeks ago. The shares reporting disruptions are similar among men and women, among parents and non-parents, and among Democrats, independents and Republicans.

“Most Americans are taking steps recommended by public health experts to protect themselves, and Republicans are now getting the message,” KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said.

The poll finds a dramatic increase in the share of adults who report taking precautions or making preparations in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Three-fourths (75%) say they stayed home instead of going to work, school, or other regular activities – roughly triple the share who said say two weeks ago.

Seven in 10 (69%) now say they have decided not to travel or changed travel plans. Two-thirds (66%) say they canceled plans to attend large gatherings, and six in 10 say they have stocked up on items like food, household supplies, or medications. In each case, the shares are substantially higher than reported two weeks ago.

Similar shares of Democrats (95%), independents (91%) and Republicans (91%) now report engaging in some form of social distancing – a significant shift since two weeks ago, when Republicans were less likely to say they were doing at least one of these things.

Importantly, those over age 60 and those with chronic conditions – two groups considered at high risk of developing COVID-19 complications – report taking these precautions at similar levels as the overall population.

In spite of the health, social and economic upheaval that Americans are already experiencing, about three in four (74%) say that the “worst is yet to come.”  The public has significant coronavirus-related worries related to their family’s health and wellbeing, as well as concerns for the nation and the health care system:

• Most (57%) now say they are worried they will put themselves at risk of exposure to coronavirus because they can’t afford to stay home and miss work – up from 35% two weeks ago. Those most likely to fear such exposure include health care workers and their families (69%), lower-income workers (72%), and those paid hourly or by the job (61%).
• About half of adults say they are worried someone in their family will get sick from coronavirus (53%, down from 62% two weeks ago) and that their investments will be negatively impacted for a long time (59%, up from 51% two weeks ago). About half (53%) worry that they will not be able to afford coronavirus testing or treatment if they need it, up from 36% in the earlier poll.
• Large majorities worry that the nation’s economy will head into a recession (79%) and that local businesses will close permanently (85%) due to the epidemic. This includes at least three quarters of Democrats, independents and Republicans.
• About eight in 10 say they are worried that the country’s health care system will be overrun and people won’t be able to get needed medical care (82%) and that their local hospital will run out of necessary equipment like beds or ventilators (78%). A large majority (88%) also worry that health care workers will not have needed personal protective equipment such as masks.
  

For Now, Americans Prioritize Slowing Coronavirus’ Spread over Reopening Businesses

In spite of concerns about its impact on the nation’s economy, a large majority (80%) say “the U.S. should take measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus while more widespread testing becomes available, even if that means many businesses will have to stay closed.”

Far fewer (14%) say “the U.S. should ease up on measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus soon, in order to open business and get the U.S. economy going again, even if that means more people would get coronavirus and could die.”

A larger share of Democrats (94%), independents (78%), and Republicans (68%) say the U.S. should prioritize slowing the spread of coronavirus than say the U.S. should prioritize getting the economy going again (4%, 16%, and 25%, respectively).

Public Trusts the CDC and Dr. Fauci Most; President Trump and Media Lag Well Behind

About eight in ten adults say they trust the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (83%) and Dr. Anthony Fauci (78%), the director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases and the most visible public health official from the Trump Administration, for reliable information on coronavirus.

Nearly as many trust state government officials (74%) and the World Health Organization (WHO) (70%). Fewer than half say they trust either the news media (47%) or President Trump (46%) to provide reliable coronavirus information.

Unlike the other sources, which majorities across party lines trust, there are big partisan differences in trust in the news media and President Trump. Most Democrats (63%) but only a third of Republicans (33%) trust the news media to provide accurate coronavirus information, while the vast majority of Republicans (89%) but few Democrats (12%) trust President Trump.

Designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at KFF, the poll was conducted March 25-30, 2020 among a nationally representative random digit dial telephone sample of 1,226 adults. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by landline (253) and cell phone (973). The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full sample. For results based on subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher.