Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Concerns over the potential spread of the coronavirus have refocused attention on the leave policies of employers. Lower-wage workers are much more likely to lack access to paid sick leave makes their economic decisions more acute.

The February 2020 KFF Health Tracking Poll examines the public’s awareness of and concerns about the Coronavirus, following its spread across China and around the globe. The public is concerned about the potential economic and health impacts of the virus on the U.S. and on them and their families. A majority of the public and majorities across partisans say the U.S. is currently doing enough to prevent the spread of the virus.

This weekend, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed more U.S. cases of the latest international outbreak – coronavirus – which started in Wuhan, China. Josh Michaud, an Associate Director for Global Health Policy at KFF, offers perspective on the U.S. role and how response to this outbreak compares to others, such as SARS and the Ebola epidemic.