NY/NJ/CT Poll: Majority Say Take Months Not Weeks To Reopen, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More Than 6 In 10 Know Someone Who Has Had Coronavirus

As the states at the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis consider how and when to reopen their economies, new state polls in NY, NJ, and CT find majorities of voters in all 3 states are overwhelmingly supportive of their governors' responses and their states' restrictions. Majorities also say it will take at least a few months before their states are safe to begin to lift their stay at home orders and reopen their economies. These Quinnipiac University polls were conducted simultaneously in all three states, and include a combined more than 2,800 registered voters.

• NY: Governor Cuomo gets a 72 - 24 percent job approval rating, and an 81 - 17 percent approval rating for his handling of the response to the coronavirus. By comparison, President Trump gets a 36 - 60 percent job approval rating, and a 35 - 61 percent approval rating for his handling of the coronavirus. In New York City, the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in the United States, Mayor de Blasio gets a 63 - 30 percent approval for his handling of the coronavirus among New York City voters.
• NJ: Governor Murphy gets a 68 - 23 percent job approval rating, and a 78 - 18 percent approval rating for his handling of the coronavirus. By comparison, President Trump gets a 36 - 59 percent job approval rating, and a 37 - 61 percent approval rating for his handling of the coronavirus.
• CT: Governor Lamont gets a 65 - 26 percent job approval rating, and a 78 - 17 percent approval rating for his handling of the coronavirus. By comparison, President Trump gets a 36 - 61 percent job approval rating, and a 36 - 61 percent approval rating for his handling of the coronavirus.

"A crisis rockets governors to approval ratings rarely seen. In the Tri-State area, the public leans on their leaders and the gratitude shows," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

Roughly two-thirds in each of these states also say the restrictions put in place in their state to slow the spread of the coronavirus are about right, while only about 20 percent in each state think they don't go far enough and about 15 percent think they go too far.

Majorities in all three states don't think their states should reopen any time soon. Timeframes for when voters in each of these states think it will be safe to begin to lift their state's stay at home order and reopen the economy are below.

In the next few months or longer:

• NY: 58 percent;
• NJ: 55 percent;
• CT: 59 percent.

Immediately or in the next few weeks:

• NY: 38 percent;
• NJ: 39 percent;
• CT: 38 percent.

And even if restrictions were lifted in the next few weeks, roughly 7 out of 10 in each state would be uncomfortable going to restaurants or bars, more than 8 out of 10 wouldn't be comfortable going to a large sports or entertainment event, and people in each state are split about returning to work outside the home.

There is a clear consensus that the state should be prioritizing slowing the spread of the coronavirus by keeping people home, even if it hurts the economy, say 71 percent of NY, NJ, and CT, while only about a quarter in each state think reopening the economy should be the top priority. A majority (NY 75 - 20 percent, NJ 74 - 20 percent, CT 76 - 19 percent) also think that there should be more testing in their state in order to begin to lift stay at home orders.

"Cautious but not cowering: having experienced a nightmare, the 32 million people who make up the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut Tri-State area are willing to hang tough and wait out the virus for another few months," added Malloy.

AT THE CENTER OF THE CRISIS

The impact hits close to home. A majority of people in each state know someone who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and worry about infection is pervasive.

• NY: 63 percent know someone who has been diagnosed, 42 percent know someone who has been hospitalized, and 35 percent know someone who has died. 68 percent are very or somewhat worried that they will be infected and get seriously ill, while 78 percent are very or somewhat worried that someone in their family will be infected and get seriously ill.
• NJ: 71 percent know someone who has been diagnosed, 48 percent know someone who has been hospitalized, and 38 percent know someone who has died. 67 percent are very or somewhat worried that they will be infected and get seriously ill, while 80 percent are very or somewhat worried that someone in their family will be infected and get seriously ill.
• CT: 61 percent know someone who has been diagnosed, 33 percent know someone who has been hospitalized, and 22 percent know someone who has died. 65 percent are very or somewhat worried that they will be infected and get seriously ill, while 78 percent are very or somewhat worried that someone in their family will be infected and get seriously ill.

"The outbreak is personal for people living in the Tri-State region. Not only do a majority of them know someone who tested positive for the coronavirus, close to 4 in 10 people in the hardest hit states of New York and New Jersey know someone who died after being infected," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Mary Snow.

FINANCIAL STRAIN

Roughly half of each state say that the coronavirus crisis has caused them financial hardship (NY 48 percent, NJ 51 percent, CT 46 percent), while about one third say they have lost their job or a substantial portion of their household income.

Close to 4 in 10 say that they are very or somewhat concerned about their household being able to pay their bills in the next month (NY 41 percent, NJ 39 percent, CT 35 percent), and about 3 in 10 in each state are very or somewhat concerned about having enough food to eat (NY 31 percent, NJ 25 percent, CT 26 percent).

"In states known for their high costs of living, the financial impact of the coronavirus is taking a toll with real concerns about making ends meet and feeding families. Roughly one-quarter of people have concerns about being able to pay their rent or mortgage bills in the next month," added Snow.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

About a quarter of all three states say that the economy in their state is excellent or good (NY 25 percent, NJ 29 percent, CT 25 percent), while around 7 in 10 say that the economy is not so good or poor. However, just over half of NY and NJ, as well as about 4 in 10 of CT, say they expect economic conditions in their state to be excellent or good a year from now.

LOOKING AHEAD

NJ is the most optimistic that their state will be back to normal a year from now, 53 - 40 percent. New Yorkers are split 47 - 47 percent, while CT is little more pessimistic as 46 percent say yes and 51 percent say no.

THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

In all 3 states, former Vice President Joe Biden has a huge lead over President Donald Trump. In NY, Biden leads 55 - 32 percent; in NJ, Biden leads 54 - 35 percent; and in CT, Biden leads 56 - 33 percent.

"Fueled by big leads among women, non-whites, and whites with a college degree, it's looking like a Biden blue state blowout across all three states," said Associate Vice President and Director Doug Schwartz.

More voters have a favorable than an unfavorable view of Biden in all 3 states (NY + 12, NJ +9, CT +12). More have an unfavorable opinion than a favorable one of Trump (NY -25, NJ -24, CT -27).

From April 30th - May 4th:

• 915 self-identified registered voters in New York were surveyed, with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points;
• 941 self-identified registered voters in New Jersey were surveyed, with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points;
• 945 self-identified registered voters in Connecticut were surveyed, with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts gold standard surveys using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts nationwide surveys and polls in more than a dozen states on national and statewide elections, as well as public policy issues.

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