Residents in CT, Nationwide, Say Don’t Reopen Too Soon, National Survey Reveals

A majority of people in the U.S. want to continue physical distancing measures, even as the federal government and numerous states begin moving toward re-opening the economy, according to a national survey led by researchers from Harvard Kennedy School, Northeastern University, and Rutgers University. 

The survey also reveals that more people trust scientists and scientific institutions to handle the COVID-19 pandemic than trust federal authorities or news media; and, as state governors take the lead on managing the crisis, they have become more popular among their constituents than President Donald J. Trump, who has handed much of the individual management over to the states, according to the survey data.

The researchers surveyed almost 23,000 individuals across all 50 states and the District of Columbia between April 17 and April 26.

David Lazer, co-author of the study and University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Computer and Information Science at Northeastern University, told CT by the Numbers that there is strong consensus in Connecticut, as in most of the country, not to reopen yet.  Connecticut respondents lean slightly more strongly in that direction, compared with the national average.   

Connecticut respondents also lean toward believing that the federal government under reacted; but generally feel the state has reacted properly. Two-thirds of respondents approve of the governor's actions (66 to 11 approve/disapprove). In Connecticut, 81% of respondents believe that state government is “reacting about right” to the coronavirus, compared with 11% who believe the state is “overreacting to the outbreak” and 8% who say state government is “not taking the outbreak seriously enough.”

The survey found that 58% of respondents from Connecticut indicated their life has been disrupted moderately or a lot, while 11% said their daily life has been disrupted only a little or not at all.  Regarding working from home during the pandemic, 33% of Connecticut respondents indicated they were not concerned about working from home, while 32% expressed concern.  Connecticut respondents also indicated a “notably high level of trust” of scientists and researchers, at 95%

Lazur noted that there is “pretty much a bipartisan consensus” regarding reopening the economy,” stating that “people are highly supportive of the social distancing measures—they’re not ready to reopen the economy yet.”

The survey found that residents of New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island top the states in terms of concerns over contracting COVID, with 80% or more of respondents, on average, indicating concern (“somewhat” or “a great deal”) over the risk to themselves or their family members.

Connecticut residents also indicated they are adhering to guidelines from state government.  80% of respondents said they followed guidelines to avoid public or crowded places “very closely,” and 17% said they followed those recommendations “somewhat closely.”  Regarding the health recommendation to avoid contact with other people, 97% said they followed the recommendation, 76% very closely and 21% somewhat closely. 

In addition, 87% indicated that the followed guidelines regarding disinfecting often-touched surfaces (64% very closely/23% somewhat closely) and 83% said they are wearing a face mask when outside of their home (64% very closely/19% somewhat closely). 

The survey revealed partisan divisions in regards to how long states should wait before trying to resume business as usual, but in general “Democrats and Republicans agree more than they disagree on many aspects of the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Matthew Baum, Marvin Kalb Professor of Global Communications at Harvard Kennedy School and Faculty Affiliate at the school’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy.

“An important example is the question of reopening the economy. Democrats and Republicans agree that, rather than doing so immediately, as many governors are currently attempting, the nation should wait at least a month before reopening.”

Overall, despite the financial hardships facing people across the country, 93 percent of Americans do not think the economy should reopen immediately—even in states that are currently moving in that direction.  People living in harder hit areas worry most about themselves or a family member contracting the virus, according to the survey.  There also are differences across generations.

 “This survey further illustrates the sizable generation gap at play in America today,” said Harvard Institute of Politics polling director John Della Volpe, a co-author on the study, in a statement accompanying the report’s release. “Already stressed and struggling with significant debt, younger Americans (18-44) are far more likely to have lost a job, or have had their pay reduced as a result of the virus. Three quarters are concerned about financial hardship — compared with a still high 65% of 45-64 year olds, and 45% of seniors.”

“Trust in scientists and experts is extremely high, much higher than in governments at any level, according to the survey authors. They indicate that 96% of respondents reported “some” or “a lot” of trust in hospitals and doctors to do the right thing to best handle the COVID-19 outbreak. And 93% said the same about scientists and researchers, and 88% about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those surveyed had significantly more trust in their state government, with 81 percent responding “some” or “a lot” of trust in state government, compared to 59 percent who responded similarly about the White House or, or 57 percent who have “some” or “a lot” of trust in Congress. Trust in President Trump to handle the outbreak was split almost perfectly down the middle, with 51 percent of respondents saying they had “some” or a “a lot” of trust in the president, and 49 percent answering “none” or “not too much,” according to the survey.

The survey also found that personal networks are critically important sources of information, with 51% of respondents indicating that they had gotten news or information regarding the coronavirus from friends or family in the preceding 24 hours. Younger people are more reliant on friends and family, with 67% of 18-24 year olds reporting getting news or information from friends and family, as compared to 38% for people aged 65 and older.

“This study is an attempt to help the public, health experts, and policymakers better understand how people across the country are thinking about, living with, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said co-author Matthew Baum.  “Our hope is that doing so will contribute to more effective communication with the public and ultimately more effective public policy decision making.”  The summary of report findings was 298 pages, is available online, and includes state-specific data.