A new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll has found that despite protests across the country, most people strongly oppose the move to re-open some businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Even if businesses are allowed to re-open, most people are wary of eating out at restaurants (74%), shopping in retail stores (69%), and going to the movies (82%). 63% of people are very or somewhat worried about getting coronavirus and becoming seriously ill and 38% of people believe that the worst of the virus is still to come.
“We all want to live in a safe and healthy community, and the best way to make that a reality for everyone right now is to stay home as much as possible and wash our hands frequently. We all want to re-open as soon as possible, but we also want to stay open. People must feel comfortable going out to eat, going to the mall, and resuming their normal activities,” Anna Scholl, Executive Director of Progress Virginia, said. “If President Trump had acted responsibly and had a plan to deal with the virus, we would be closer to ensuring that businesses could open and stay open. But we still don’t have the testing and personal protective equipment we need to make re-opening businesses safe for workers and patrons. Rather than endangering our communities, we need to make sure that hardworking people who are negatively affected by coronavirus have the safety net they need, including paycheck protection, paid sick days, rent cancellation, other measures that ensure that we don’t have to choose between our economy and staying healthy.”
Americans widely oppose reopening most businesses, despite easing of restrictions in some states, Post-U. Md. poll finds [Washington Post, Dan Balz and Emily Guskin]
“Americans clearly oppose the reopening of restaurants, retail stores and other businesses, even as governors begin to lift restrictions that have kept the economy locked down in an effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll.”
“But 67 percent say they would be uncomfortable shopping at a retail clothing store, and 78 percent would be uncomfortable eating at a sit-down restaurant. People in states with looser restrictions report similar levels of discomfort as those in states with stricter rules.”
“Americans continue to give President Trump negative marks for his response to the outbreak, while offering widely positive assessments of their state governors, a trend that has been consistent throughout the pandemic.”
“The push to reopen has been driven by Trump and largely by Republican governors, and the poll shows Republicans are far more supportive of opening businesses than Democrats. Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents overwhelmingly oppose opening all types of businesses tested, while Republicans and Republican-leaning independents range from mostly in favor of opening (61 percent for golf courses) to mostly opposed (59 percent for dine-in restaurants).”
“Fear of infection, the poll finds, has not abated at all in recent weeks. In the survey, 63 percent of Americans say they are either very or somewhat worried about getting the virus and becoming seriously ill, with 36 percent saying they are either not too worried or not at all worried.”