CINCINNATI, OH — A national poll from Research America shows that a majority of Americans are willing to make significant sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic and many remain optimistic about the future.
Pollster Rex Repass, the president of Research America Inc. appeared on Monday’s MetroNews ‘Talkline’ to discuss the results of the poll based on interviews conducted between March 26-29 among a national sample of 600 adults over the age of 18.
Data collection was completed online.
“The vast majority supports strong measures including mass cancellations and closing borders,” Repass said.
The results showed that 75 percent agree with the extreme measures put in place to protect people such as stay at home orders.
Breaking it down into categories, 87 percent agreed with mass cancellations and closing, 86 percent on travel bans, 86 percent on restricted visitation at hospitals, nursing homes, etc., and 82 percent of closing borders.
“Most Americans are willing to adhere to their state’s stay-at-home order if it’s for the greater good, with 69 percent saying they can accept extreme limitations for more than a month if it helps to suppress the infection rate. Two-thirds go so far as to say they don’t care how long restrictions are in place if it prevents widespread illness and death,” Repass said in a release.
On the other hand, about one-quarter of respondents, 27 percent, feel the social distancing and other limitations go too far, and only 11 percent said they worry about transmitting the virus to others, Research America reported.
As far as performance rating and who Americans are trusting the most with information, healthcare leaders including those with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) & Prevention received the highest job performance rating.
“We ask about government leaders, we ask about the healthcare professionals, we ask about the president, Congress and state governors. There’s no question that the healthcare professionals such as Dr. (Anthony) Fauci and Dr. (Deborah) Birx and the CDC are who people trust and listen to,” Repass said on ‘Talkline.’
The CDC received a 64 percent satisfaction followed by the respondent’s state’s governor, 56 percent. A plurality, 43 percent satisfied/33 percent dissatisfied with President Donald Trump, 44 percent with Vice President Mike Pence with the balance unsure or having a “wait and see attitude, Research America stated.
.@rlrepass joins @HoppyKercheval to go over some of the data Research America has collected on the country’s response to COVID-19. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIRZCB pic.twitter.com/iIzTJAgLVx
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) April 6, 2020
As far as the economic impact, 20 percent of respondents are concerned about the virus causing an economic recession but only 7 percent are worried about losing their job permanently.
More results showed only 5 percent worried about their company going out of business or the loss of retirement income from stocks and 401k, 8 percent. More than half, 57 percent, feel confident that their job will be secure throughout the pandemic.
“The economic impact is severe all over the country but what people remain most concerned about is remaining healthy and their family being healthy. People are more concerned about their loved ones than themselves,” Repass said.
Overall, Americans remained optimistic about the future of the country with 40 percent saying the world will be a “better place” after the virus has been controlled, compared to 18 percent who believe the world will be worse off.
Repass said there’s no doubt the pandemic will be felt for generations to come.
“This will impact not only what is happening today but the next 20 to 40 to 50 years,” he said. “In the way people feel about their work, the way they engage, the way they talk, the way they conduct business, and the way they are engaged with their family and friends.”