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Survey says: ‘It’s time to get on with our lives’
Monmouth University poll finds 70 percent of Americans think COVID has become a part of life.
A new Monmouth University poll finds that most Americans say it’s time to accept COVID-19 as a part of life.
The school recently released the results of the survey, which polled 794 adults by phone between Jan. 20 and Jan. 24. Its margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percent.
According to the poll, 70 percent of Americans agree that COVID is here to stay, and “we just need to get on with our lives.” By party, 89 percent of Republicans felt that way, as opposed to 71 percent of independents and 47 percent of Democrats.
Return to normal
When asked about getting the pandemic under control and returning to normal, about 34 percent thought that would be possible by the end of the year. About 28 percent said that would never happen — up from 22 percent who felt that way in September and 6 percent who felt that way a year ago.
Fear of getting sick
About half of those surveyed said they were very or somewhat concerned about catching one of the new variants, according to the university. This includes 58 percent of those who have not had COVID-19, as well as 38 percent of those who have had it.
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The number of people concerned about a family member becoming sick and seriously ill clocked in at 38 percent. That number is up from 30 percent in December, though down from 45 percent in September, when the delta variant was still spreading.
Views on vaccination
Though concerns about getting sick have increased, many remain opposed to vaccination, according to the poll.
While 45 percent of adults reported getting a booster shot, about 37 percent said they would never do so, including 17 percent who said they wouldn’t get the initial vaccination.
Attitudes towards masks
According to the school, more than half of respondents support having mask and social-distancing guidelines in their state. That number is down slightly from 55 percent in December but about the same as last July when COVID cases had decreased significantly.
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About 43 percent support proof-of-vaccination requirements in an office or public setting, according to the poll. This support has declined since last September, when that support was at 53 percent.
Faith in government
Ratings for how both the president and federal health agencies have handled the pandemic continue to slip, according to the poll.
About 43 percent of those polled say President Joe Biden has done a good job, while 53% say he has done a bad job.
Public opinion on the president’s handling of the pandemic was evenly split a month ago, at 46 percent approving and disapproving, according to the university.
Perceptions about how federal health agencies have handled the pandemic split at 46 percent saying they have done a good job compared to 47 percent saying they have done a bad one. Last month respondents said it was 48% good and 41% bad.
The ratings for state governors seemed to improve slightly, according to the school. About 54 percent said their governor was doing a good job, versus 41 percent saying they did a bad one. That improved from December, when 50 percent said their governor was doing a good job, and 41 percent said they were doing a bad one.
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