72% Are Concerned About New COVID-19 Strains Making The Pandemic Worse, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Nearly 6 In 10 Say The Pandemic Has Caused Financial Struggles
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As COVID-19 variants spread, almost three-quarters of Americans say they are either very concerned (34 percent) or somewhat concerned (38 percent) that the new strains of COVID-19 will make the coronavirus pandemic in the United States worse, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University national poll of 1,075 adults released today. About one-quarter of Americans say they are not so concerned (13 percent) or not concerned at all (14 percent) that the new strains will make the pandemic worse.
When it comes to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, 7 percent say they have already been vaccinated, 59 percent say they are willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and 30 percent say they are not willing to get one.
Among those who say they are not willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) cite safety concerns that are specific to the COVID-19 vaccine while 28 percent of those not willing to get a COVID- 19 vaccine say they have concerns about vaccines in general.
"Worries are high about darker days ahead in the pandemic as new strains of COVID-19 emerge. While the race is on to get adults vaccinated, 3 in 10 Americans are voicing resistance about rolling up their sleeves," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Mary Snow.
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
A majority of Americans say, 57 - 34 percent, that they believe President Joe Biden will be able to fulfill his pledge to get enough vaccines for 300 million Americans by the end of the summer.
Two-thirds of Americans say they are either very confident (21 percent) or somewhat confident (45 percent) in the federal government's ability to oversee the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Another thirty-one percent say they are either not so confident (17 percent) or not confident at all (14 percent).
ANTHONY FAUCI: FAVORABILITY
Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden's chief medical adviser on COVID-19, receives a positive favorability rating as 53 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of him, 23 percent have an unfavorable opinion, and 22 percent haven't heard enough about him.
MASKS
Three-quarters (75 percent) of Americans say they wear a mask all the time when they go out in public where six feet of social distancing can't always be maintained, and 12 percent say they wear a mask most of the time.
Asked to compare their mask wearing to a few months ago, 66 percent say they wear masks about as often as they did a few months ago, with 25 percent saying they wear them more often.
Among those wearing a mask more often compared to a few months ago, 29 percent say President Biden's urging Americans to wear a mask was a major reason why, 11 percent say it was a minor reason and 58 percent say it was not a reason at all.
CORONAVIRUS: MENTAL HEALTH & FINANCIAL IMPACT
Roughly half of Americans (51 percent) say the coronavirus pandemic is harming their mental health or a family member's mental health, and 48 percent say it is not.
More than half of Americans (58 percent) say the coronavirus pandemic has caused financial struggles for them or someone in their immediate family, while 42 percent say it has not.
When asked how difficult it would be to pay an unexpected bill of one thousand dollars right away, 59 percent say it would be either very difficult (31 percent) or somewhat difficult (28 percent) to pay a bill of that size. Forty percent say it would be not so difficult (14 percent) or not difficult at all (26 percent).
"With COVID-19 upending life in the U.S. for almost an entire year, the financial toll of the pandemic shows no escape for a majority of American families. For 3 in 10 Americans, paying an unexpected bill of $1,000 right now would be very difficult," added Snow.
ECONOMY
Seventy-one percent of Americans rate the economy as not so good (44 percent) or poor (27 percent). Twenty-six percent rate it as excellent (3 percent) or good (23 percent).
Asked what they think is the best indicator in regard to how well the country's economy is doing, 59 percent said the unemployment rate, 11 percent said the stock market, 9 percent said home values, 9 percent did not offer an opinion, 7 percent said something else and 6 percent said retirement savings.
SUPER BOWL
A little more than half of Americans (53 percent) plan to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday while 42 percent say they'll pass on watching it this year.
Among those who plan to watch, 7 out of 10 say they'll do so with fewer people this year, but 29 percent say they're not likely to watch with fewer people than in previous years.
Neither team can claim to be America's favorite. The Kansas City Chiefs have a razor thin lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 25 - 21 percent, among Americans. Forty-nine percent say they don't care which team wins.
1,075 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from January 28th - February 1st with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
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Poll Questions
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Question 11. Is your opinion of Anthony Fauci favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 53% 24% 80% 52% 49% 57% 69% 37% Unfavorable 23 41 4 25 26 21 24 34 Hvn't hrd enough 22 34 14 22 24 20 5 27 REFUSED 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Favorable 45% 57% 51% 58% 40% 57% 49% 60% Unfavorable 21 23 28 26 32 29 31 12 Hvn't hrd enough 34 19 20 14 26 12 19 28 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 - -
Question 22. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Excellent 3% 6% 3% 1% 2% 3% 2% 4% Good 23 24 21 23 24 22 26 27 Not so good 44 38 52 47 43 46 44 39 Poor 27 30 23 27 28 27 27 28 DK/NA 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Excellent 2% 4% 3% 3% 4% 3% 3% 2% Good 19 24 26 25 31 22 26 18 Not so good 48 42 42 45 37 45 41 52 Poor 29 29 28 26 26 28 27 27 DK/NA 3 1 1 2 3 1 2 2 REGION................... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... NEast MWest South West <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Excellent 2% 2% 4% 1% 1% 5% 3% 4% Good 20 30 22 20 18 20 29 29 Not so good 44 46 46 40 44 45 45 45 Poor 33 21 23 36 35 29 22 21 DK/NA 1 1 4 3 2 1 2 1 -
Question 23. What do you think is the best indicator with regard to how well the country's economy is doing: the stock market, the unemployment rate, your retirement savings, or home values?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Stock market 11% 20% 7% 10% 13% 8% 9% 17% Unemployment rate 59 49 62 62 55 62 69 51 Retirement savings 6 5 5 6 5 6 5 5 Home values 9 14 7 8 10 8 7 12 SOMETHING ELSE(VOL) 7 2 9 9 8 7 6 7 DK/NA 9 9 10 5 9 8 4 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Stock market 15% 10% 9% 12% 16% 12% 14% 6% Unemployment rate 49 68 68 53 52 63 58 63 Retirement savings 2 5 8 9 6 4 5 7 Home values 11 9 8 10 12 8 10 9 SOMETHING ELSE(VOL) 10 6 4 7 6 7 6 7 DK/NA 13 4 4 10 9 5 7 8 REGION................... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... NEast MWest South West <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Stock market 14% 14% 10% 8% 8% 14% 11% 11% Unemployment rate 56 51 60 65 53 55 61 71 Retirement savings 4 7 6 4 7 10 2 6 Home values 10 10 9 8 12 10 11 5 SOMETHING ELSE(VOL) 8 7 6 9 9 2 8 6 DK/NA 8 12 9 6 11 9 6 2 -
Question 24. How difficult would it be for you to pay an unexpected bill of one thousand dollars right away: very difficult, somewhat difficult, not so difficult, or not difficult at all?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very difficult 31% 34% 24% 33% 31% 31% 10% 33% Somewhat difficult 28 32 33 22 25 30 27 27 Not so difficult 14 12 16 16 15 13 19 13 Not difficult at all 26 22 26 28 28 24 43 25 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Very difficult 40% 26% 33% 21% 24% 26% 25% 41% Somewhat difficult 29 31 29 24 22 32 27 30 Not so difficult 10 16 14 16 18 13 15 11 Not difficult at all 20 27 23 39 35 29 32 18 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 - REGION................... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... NEast MWest South West <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Very difficult 19% 30% 38% 30% 59% 38% 18% 8% Somewhat difficult 31 27 26 30 27 33 35 17 Not so difficult 17 14 12 15 4 14 19 21 Not difficult at all 33 28 22 24 10 15 27 54 DK/NA 1 - 2 2 - - 1 - -
Question 38. How often would you say you wear a mask when you go out in public where six feet of social distancing can't always be maintained: all the time, most of the time, sometimes, hardly ever, or never?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No All the time 75% 63% 90% 76% 65% 85% 83% 64% Most of the time 12 18 7 12 17 8 10 17 Sometimes 4 8 - 5 7 1 4 5 Hardly ever 4 9 - 5 5 3 2 9 Never 3 2 2 2 6 - 1 5 DK/NA 1 - - - - 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht All the time 70% 75% 77% 81% 59% 82% 71% 83% Most of the time 13 13 12 12 19 10 15 10 Sometimes 6 3 4 3 7 2 5 3 Hardly ever 6 5 3 2 7 5 6 1 Never 4 4 3 1 6 - 3 3 DK/NA - - 1 - 1 1 1 - REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural All the time 81% 70% 73% 79% 84% 77% 63% Most of the time 11 16 12 12 6 15 17 Sometimes 5 4 5 2 3 5 6 Hardly ever 3 6 3 5 4 3 7 Never - 3 4 3 2 1 7 DK/NA - - 2 - 1 - 1 -
Question 39. Compared to a few months ago, are you wearing a mask when you go out in public more often, less often, or about as often?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No More often 25% 24% 28% 25% 25% 25% 13% 24% Less often 7 11 3 6 9 5 5 9 About as often 66 64 66 69 64 68 81 65 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht More often 19% 21% 29% 30% 21% 19% 20% 34% Less often 12 9 5 2 11 3 7 7 About as often 68 69 65 64 66 75 71 59 DK/NA 1 1 1 4 2 2 2 1 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural More often 16% 23% 28% 30% 27% 22% 26% Less often 5 6 8 7 7 7 7 About as often 77 71 61 62 65 70 65 DK/NA 2 1 4 1 1 1 3 -
Question 39a. (If more often q39) Was President Biden's urging all Americans to wear a mask in public for the next three months a major reason for why you are wearing a mask more often, a minor reason, or not a reason at all?
ADULTS.................. WEAR MASK MORE OFTEN Q39 Tot Men Wom Major reason 29% 23% 34% Minor reason 11 11 10 Not a reason at all 58 64 52 DK/NA 2 1 4 -
Question 40. Are you willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine, or not?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Willing 59% 41% 76% 61% 56% 62% 74% 52% No 30 45 13 30 35 24 16 36 ALREADY GOT IT(VOL) 7 8 7 5 5 8 8 7 DK/NA 5 6 3 4 4 6 2 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Yes/Willing 54% 57% 63% 66% 57% 63% 60% 60% No 42 33 30 13 35 23 29 32 ALREADY GOT IT(VOL) 2 6 3 16 5 10 7 4 DK/NA 3 5 4 5 3 4 4 4 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Yes/Willing 57% 65% 55% 62% 63% 68% 47% No 32 27 30 29 29 22 39 ALREADY GOT IT(VOL) 6 7 8 4 4 7 8 DK/NA 5 1 7 4 4 3 6 -
Question 40a. (If no q40) Which is a bigger reason for you for not getting a COVID-19 vaccine: you have concerns about vaccines in general or you have concerns about the safety of a COVID-19 vaccine?
ADULTS-NO/NOT WILLING Q40 General vaccine concerns 28% Covid-19 vaccine safety concerns 65 DK/NA 7 -
Question 41. At this time, how confident are you in the federal government's ability to oversee the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines: very confident, somewhat confident, not so confident, or not confident at all?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very confident 21% 7% 33% 20% 18% 24% 20% 19% Somewhat confident 45 46 55 41 41 49 51 42 Not so confident 17 20 8 23 19 15 17 20 Not confident at all 14 25 3 13 19 9 11 17 DK/NA 3 2 - 2 3 3 1 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Very confident 17% 20% 23% 25% 16% 22% 19% 24% Somewhat confident 46 47 42 47 42 48 45 46 Not so confident 19 16 20 15 20 17 19 16 Not confident at all 15 16 14 11 19 11 15 12 DK/NA 3 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Very confident 17% 21% 24% 19% 23% 24% 16% Somewhat confident 50 43 41 50 51 46 38 Not so confident 15 22 16 17 16 16 20 Not confident at all 18 12 14 12 9 11 23 DK/NA 1 3 5 2 1 3 2 -
Question 42. As you may know, President Biden has pledged that there will be enough vaccines for 300 million Americans by the end of the summer. Do you believe that President Biden will be able to do this, or don't you think so?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Believe 57% 39% 79% 55% 52% 61% 64% 51% No 34 54 16 35 40 28 31 40 DK/NA 9 7 6 11 7 10 5 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Yes/Believe 56% 59% 60% 58% 49% 61% 56% 64% No 38 35 32 34 43 32 37 30 DK/NA 7 6 7 9 8 7 7 6 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Yes/Believe 58% 59% 53% 60% 63% 64% 45% No 38 35 33 32 29 30 45 DK/NA 3 7 13 8 8 6 9 -
Question 43. How concerned are you that the new strains of COVID-19 will make the coronavirus pandemic in the United States worse: very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very concerned 34% 27% 45% 29% 26% 41% 32% 26% Somewhat concerned 38 33 43 42 37 40 43 40 Not so concerned 13 18 6 13 16 10 13 16 Not concerned at all 14 21 4 15 21 7 11 18 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Very concerned 29% 30% 38% 37% 21% 35% 28% 42% Somewhat concerned 31 42 40 42 37 45 41 36 Not so concerned 18 10 11 11 17 12 15 8 Not concerned at all 20 17 12 7 24 7 15 12 DK/NA 2 2 - 2 1 1 1 2 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Very concerned 38% 28% 36% 31% 38% 33% 28% Somewhat concerned 38 44 35 38 41 42 34 Not so concerned 9 14 14 13 9 11 18 Not concerned at all 13 13 12 18 11 13 19 DK/NA 2 1 3 - 2 1 1 -
Question 44. Has the coronavirus pandemic caused any financial struggles for you or anyone in your immediate family, or not?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 58% 57% 56% 58% 58% 57% 48% 60% No 42 43 44 42 42 41 52 39 DK/NA 1 - - - - 1 - 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Yes 66% 56% 66% 46% 52% 58% 55% 64% No 34 44 34 54 47 41 44 36 DK/NA - - - 1 - - - - REGION................... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... NEast MWest South West <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Yes 54% 55% 59% 61% 66% 72% 52% 47% No 46 45 40 38 34 27 47 53 DK/NA - - 2 1 - - - - -
Question 45. Is the coronavirus pandemic harming the mental health of you or someone in your family, or not?
ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 51% 43% 54% 55% 43% 58% 57% 47% No 48 56 45 44 56 40 42 52 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Yes 55% 56% 54% 37% 43% 59% 51% 52% No 45 43 45 62 56 41 48 48 DK/NA - 1 - 1 1 1 1 - REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Yes 53% 51% 45% 59% 53% 51% 51% No 46 48 52 41 47 49 48 DK/NA 1 1 2 - 1 - 1 -
Question 54. Which team do you want to win the Super Bowl: the Kansas City Chiefs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or don't you care who wins the Super Bowl?
ADULTS................................................... AGE IN YRS.............. Watching Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Game q55 Chiefs 25% 29% 22% 27% 27% 26% 23% 37% Buccaneers 21 24 18 21 19 25 24 32 Don't care 49 45 54 46 52 47 52 27 DK/NA 4 2 6 6 2 2 1 3 REGION................... NEast MWest South West Chiefs 23% 34% 24% 20% Buccaneers 23 17 27 13 Don't care 47 47 44 62 DK/NA 6 2 4 5 HAVE TEAM PREFERENCE Q54..... Watching Tot Men Wom Game q55 Chiefs 55% 54% 55% 54% Buccaneers 45 46 45 46 -
Question 55. Do you plan to watch the Super Bowl, or not?
ADULTS....................................... AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 53% 57% 49% 58% 53% 55% 51% No 42 40 44 38 44 43 45 DK/NA 5 3 6 4 3 2 4 REGION................... NEast MWest South West Yes 61% 57% 51% 47% No 36 40 44 47 DK/NA 3 3 5 6 HAVE TEAM PREFERENCE Q54 Tot Men Wom Yes 80% 81% 78% No 18 18 19 DK/NA 2 1 3 -
Question 55a. (If yes q55) Are you likely to watch the Super Bowl with fewer people this year than in previous years, or not?
ADULTS................................................. YES/WATCH SUPER BOWL Q55............................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 70% 51% 87% 70% 65% 75% 69% 59% No 29 48 11 29 34 23 30 39 DK/NA 1 - 2 2 1 2 2 2 WHITE..... Men Wom Wht NonWht Yes 60% 66% 63% 80% No 39 32 36 19 DK/NA 2 2 2 -