Categories
Analysis Health and Stress Relationships and networks

Who is most vulnerable?

Anyone can contract COVID-19, but the risk is not the same for all Americans.

Who do we believe is the most vulnerable?

Approximately 83% of Americans believe that elderly people, the age group with the highest number of Coronavirus related deaths, have a higher than average risk of contagion.

Approximately 83% of Americans believe that elderly people, the age group with the highest number of Coronavirus related deaths, have a higher than average risk of contagion.

We also see the homeless population as at risk, with 67% of Americans believe they have a higher than average risk.

We also see the homeless population as at risk, with 67% of Americans believe they have a higher than average risk.

The majority of Americans, 58%, believe that people in poverty have a higher risk. But, as a country there is some disagreement about this assessment.

The majority of Americans, 58%, believe that people in poverty have a higher risk. But, as a country there is some disagreement about this assessment.
Regarding people who are incarcerated, 53% of Americans believe that those in jail or prison have a higher risk. This number has increased over time.

Regarding people who are incarcerated, 53% of Americans believe that those in jail or prison have a higher risk. This number has increased over time.

As a country, we are also conflicted about the risk to police personnel, with 60% of Americans believing that police have a higher risk. We see policing as riskier now than in March.

As a country, we are also conflicted about the risk to police personnel, with 60% of Americans believing that police have a higher risk. We see policing as riskier now than in March.

 

Categories
Analysis Financial Well-Being and Work Public Policy Response

We support restrictions.

Every state has some sort of shelter-in-place order.

Do we support such restrictions?

In March, Americans were more worried about the disruptions caused by COVID-19 than about catching the virus. Since then, worry about the virus has increased substantially.

In March, Americans were more worried about the disruptions caused by COVID-19 than about catching the virus. Since then, worry about the virus has increased substantially.

At the same time, worry about disruptions has declined somewhat.

At the same time, worry about disruptions has declined somewhat.

There is broad support for keeping businesses closed, with 75 percent agreeing we should force non-essential businesses to close. This support has increased over time.

There is broad support for keeping businesses closed, with 75 percent agreeing we should force non-essential businesses to close. This support has increased over time.
There is also broad support for quarantine and shelter-in-place orders, with support increasing over time.

There is also broad support for quarantine and shelter-in-place orders, with support increasing over time.

Americans are also increasingly supportive of severe restrictions, such as criminal penalties for individuals who violate quarantine.

Americans are also increasingly supportive of severe restrictions, such as criminal penalties for individuals who violate quarantine.

 

Categories
Analysis Social and Community Engagement

Is COVID-19 a ‘Foreign Virus’?

The majority of Americans agree: this is a foreign virus.

What does that mean?

The majority, 52% of Americans, agree with the statement: “COVID-19 is a foreign virus”. Agreement has remained strong for the past month.

The majority, 52% of Americans, agree with the statement: “COVID-19 is a foreign virus”. Agreement has remained strong for the past month.

Americans are increasingly likely to see the pandemic as exacerbated by globalization.

Americans are increasingly likely to see the pandemic as exacerbated by globalization.

We are also increasingly likely to view the virus as the fault of other countries behaving recklessly.

We are also increasingly likely to view the virus as the fault of other countries behaving recklessly.
These views differ across party lines. For instance, republicans are more likely to agree with the statement that “the virus demonstrates the dangers of the growing importance of China”.

These views differ across party lines. For instance, republicans are more likely to agree with the statement that “the virus demonstrates the dangers of the growing importance of China”.

Republicans are also more likely to agree with the statement: “The virus highlights problems with immigration.”

Republicans are also more likely to agree with the statement: “The virus highlights problems with immigration.”

 

Categories
Analysis Financial Well-Being and Work Pro-Social Behavior

What are we willing to sacrifice for the economy?

Recent high-profile declarations from policy leaders suggest Americans are willing to die for the economy.

Is that true?

There is little evidence that Americans are willing to sacrifice themselves or others for economic recovery.
The majority of Americans (nearly 75%) disagree that they are willing to get sick, even if it means keeping their job.

The majority of Americans (nearly 75%) disagree that they are willing to get sick, even if it means keeping their job.

The majority of Americans (64%) are not willing to let others get sick in order to keep the economy strong.

The majority of Americans (64%) are not willing to let others get sick in order to keep the economy strong.
Americans are strongly opposed to sacrificing older Americans for the sake of economic recovery.

Americans are strongly opposed to sacrificing older Americans for the sake of economic recovery.

Over the last month, there has been an increase in the number of people who support policies that force non-essential businesses to close.

Overall, there is little evidence that Americans are willing to sacrifice themselves or others for economic recovery.

Over the last month, there has been an increase in the number of people who support policies that force non-essential businesses to close.

 

Categories
Analysis Household Response Relationships and networks

Do you know someone with COVID-19?

This week, the number of Americans who know someone with COVID-19 rose to 1-in-3.

This differs by group across the U.S.

The number of Americans who know someone with COVID-19 has tripled in the last four weeks.

The number of Americans who know someone with COVID-19 has tripled in the last four weeks.
Latino and African Americans are more likely to know someone with COVID-19. This gap has widened over the last month.

Latino and African Americans are more likely to know someone with COVID-19 (see this post). This gap has widened over the last month.

Women are also more likely to know someone with COVID-19, and this difference has also increased since mid-March.

Women are also more likely to know someone with COVID-19, and this difference has also increased since mid-March.
Democrats are more likely to know someone with COVID-19, likely due to high rates of infections in densely populated areas. But the party gap is decreasing over time.

Democrats are more likely to know someone with COVID-19, likely due to high rates of infections in densely populated areas. But the party gap is decreasing over time.

Knowing someone with COVID-19 impacts our behavior and attitudes. For instance, knowing someone with Coronavirus increases our support for policies that force businesses to close.

Knowing someone with COVID-19 impacts our behavior and attitudes. For instance, knowing someone with Coronavirus increases our support for policies that force businesses to close.

 

Categories
Analysis Household Response Relationships and networks

The color gap in COVID19.

As the pandemic spreads, it will affect more families nationwide.

Who knows someone with COVID-19?

Blacks, Latinos, and Asians are more likely to know someone with COVID-19.

Blacks, Latinos, and Asians are more likely to know someone with COVID-19.
Black and Asian families have been hit particularly hard by Coronavirus, with nearly 1-in-10 having a family member with COVID-19.

Black and Asian families have been hit particularly hard by Coronavirus, with nearly 1-in-10 having a family member with COVID-19.

Asian and Latino Americans are the most likely to have a friend with COVID-19.

Asian and Latino Americans are the most likely to have a friend with COVID-19.
Communities of color are also more likely to have someone in the neighborhood with COVID-19.

Communities of color are also more likely to have someone in the neighborhood with COVID-19.

Asian Americans are the most likely group to work with someone who has contracted COVID-19.

Asian Americans are the most likely group to work with someone who has contracted COVID-19.

 

Categories
Analysis Household Response Information and Media Consumption

Does distrusting science decrease social distancing?

1-in-10 Americans distrust scientific experts.

Does that impact how they respond to social distance policies?

About 12% of Americans believe scientific experts are less trustworthy than the average person.

About 12% of Americans believe scientific experts are less trustworthy than the average person.
Americans who distrust scientific experts are less likely to talk with people about the coronavirus.

Americans who distrust scientific experts are less likely to talk with people about the coronavirus.

Americans who distrust experts are also more likely to believe the scope of the pandemic is a hoax.

Americans who distrust experts are also more likely to believe the scope of the pandemic is a hoax.
These Americans are also more likely to go to places with large crowds.

These Americans are also more likely to go to places with large crowds.

Americans who distrust experts are also more likely to go out with friends.

Americans who distrust experts are also more likely to go out with friends.

 

Categories
Analysis Information and Media Consumption

Does media influence social distancing?

Americans have access to a wide variety of media sources.

But are they all equal in COVID-19 information?

More than 50% of Americans report seeing Coronavirus news more than once a day.

More than 50% of Americans report seeing Coronavirus news more than once a day.
Most people are happy with the amount of COVID-19 news they see, but about 40% think it is too much.

Most people are happy with the amount of COVID-19 news they see, but about 40% think it is too much.

Which news you consume influences how much COVID news you see. Large national outlets and local news papers seem to have the most coverage.

Which news you consume influences how much COVID news you see. Large national outlets and local news papers seem to have the most coverage.
Which news you consume also relates to social distancing behaviors. Individuals who get their news primarily online are much more likely to still be going to places with crowds.

Which news you consume also relates to social distancing behaviors. Individuals who get their news primarily online are much more likely to still be going to places with crowds.

Individuals who get their news primarily online are much more likely to still be going out with friends.

Individuals who get their news primarily online are much more likely to still be going out with friends.

 

Categories
Analysis Health and Stress Household Response Relationships and networks

Will there be a baby boom?

The vast majority of Americans lives under a shelter-in-place order.

Will we have more babies in 9 months?

Americans are having less sex today than they were in March.

Americans are having less sex today than they were in March.
This is probably the result of quarantine stress.  People who are unemployed are much less likely to have sex.  People still going into work are having the most sex.

This is probably the result of quarantine stress.  People who are unemployed are much less likely to have sex.  People still going into work are having the most sex.

We are fighting with our partners more than we were in March.

We are fighting with our partners more than we were in March.
People who are still going into work are happier, overall, than people who are not.  Those who are unemployed are the most unhappy.

People who are still going into work are happier, overall, than people who are not.  Those who are unemployed are the most unhappy.

 

Categories
Analysis Information and Media Consumption

Is COVID-19 a hoax?

About 1-in-6 Americans believe the scale of the pandemic is a hoax.

That number hasn’t changed much over the last month.

Today, about 16 percent of people agreed with the question “The scale of the pandemic is a hoax.”

Today, about 16 percent of people agreed with the question “The scale of the pandemic is a hoax.”
The number of people who believe the scale of the pandemic is a hoax hasn’t changed much in the past month.

The number of people who believe the scale of the pandemic is a hoax hasn’t changed much in the past month.

Republicans are more likely to believe the pandemic is a hoax than democrats.

Republicans are more likely to believe the pandemic is a hoax than democrats.
What is more surprising, is that people who are less risk averse, who are more likely to take risks and engage in risky behavior, are also more likely to see the pandemic as a hoax.

What is more surprising, is that people who are less risk averse, who are more likely to take risks and engage in risky behavior, are also more likely to see the pandemic as a hoax.

People with a shorter time preference, who do not like to plan far into the future, are also more likely to see the scale of the pandemic as a hoax.

People with a shorter time preference, who do not like to plan far into the future, are also more likely to see the scale of the pandemic as a hoax.