Civis is fielding regular surveys to track public opinion on issues related to the coronavirus pandemic and our national response. The below analysis reviews the first four weeks of survey research, beginning March 20th and ending April 12th. View the weekly reports here.
Throughout the country, Americans remain highly concerned about both the health risks posed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as the societal and economic effects of the response efforts. However, opinions and behaviors among some demographics have begun to shift as quarantine periods lengthen, case counts increase, and unemployment worsens.
We find that these trends are growing over time. In March, African American and white respondents were similarly concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, and younger respondents (aged 18–34) were only slightly less concerned than older respondents (aged 35+). But in April, African American respondents showed 7pp (percentage points) less concern than white respondents, and younger respondents showed 12pp less concern than older respondents, both of which are statistically significant differences. We find similar results when asking respondents if “the danger or severity of the outbreak has been over-exaggerated.”
Younger adults and African Americans are under no illusions that they are immune to the novel coronavirus: when asked if they are likely to catch COVID-19, they agreed at rates similar to or greater than older adults and white Americans, respectively. However, as of our mid-April survey, younger adults were 10pp less likely to be concerned for their personal health, and both younger adults and African Americans were more concerned about their job security than older adults or white Americans (by 15pp and 12pp, respectively).
Their focus on job security is well-founded: 22% of younger adults and 15% of African Americans report they or an immediate family member lost a job due to the novel coronavirus as of April 12, compared to 11% of older adults and white Americans1.
Perhaps due to their economic concerns, both younger adults and African Americans are less likely to support local “shelter-in-place” restrictions (by 17pp and 6pp, respectively), and more likely to attend non-essential gatherings at least a few times a week (by 21pp and 18pp). We hypothesize that this disinterest in social distancing measures is compounded by the mistaken belief that their individual actions will not help them to avoid contracting the virus, a belief which is more prevalent among younger adults and African Americans.
Concern around COVID-19 issues is high within all demographic subgroups, but some issues are of particular concern to Hispanic respondents. Our most recent survey finds that they are a staggering 26pp and 33pp more concerned than white respondents about their household income and job security, respectively. Hispanic respondents are also at least as concerned as white respondents about their health and the health of their loved ones.
This heightened concern is mirrored by reality: 28% of Hispanic respondents reported that they or an immediate family member lost a job due to COVID-19, compared to 11% of white respondents. The concern and the reality of job loss among Hispanic respondents is partly a function of their concentration in sectors which have most been affected by the COVID-19 response: Hispanic workers are 18% of the overall workforce, but they are 30% of construction workers, 30% of food manufacturing workers, 29% of accommodation services, 27% of food services, and 22% of retail2.
Recent weeks have seen protests against the shelter-in-place measures enforced by the Democratic governors of two political swing states, Michigan and Virginia, as well as anti-lockdown protests in several other states3. However, these protesters are a very small and very vocal minority: our research shows that Trump voters support shelter-in-place measures and avoid non-essential gatherings at equal rates to non-Trump voters. Among both Trump voters and non-Trump voters, fewer than 5% “strongly disagree” with their local shelter-in-place orders.
The COVID-19 public health crisis and the economic effects of the response cuts across party lines. Trump voters voice the same level of general concern as non-Trump voters (88% vs. 86%), are equally likely to believe they will catch COVID-19 (29% vs. 28%), and are likewise similarly concerned about their household income, job security, personal health, and health of their loved ones.
Trump voters differentiate themselves in two ways: they believe that the COVID-19 danger is exaggerated, and yet they also believe their own actions lower the risk of catching the disease. Unlike younger adults and African Americans, Trump voters feel a stronger sense of personal agency, which may explain why they feel the danger is exaggerated. This confidence may help Trump voters if their care regimens follow the current best practices, or it may undermine Trump voters if their quarantine procedures are substandard.
As the public health crisis peaks and the economic recession continues, Civis will continue to summarize the evidence-based narratives we see emerging across the country. Stay safe out there!
Methodology: Responses were gathered through online web panels and weighted to accurately reflect the entire adult U.S. population. Questions were fielded March 20–23 (1,986 respondents), March 25–27 (1,980 respondents), April 2–3 (2,828 respondents) and April 10–12, 2020 (1,296 respondents).
