12 votes

How concerned are Americans about the coronavirus so far?

13 comments

  1. [11]
    Kuromantis
    Link
    ರ_ರ

    There are some pretty stark differences in how Democrats and Republicans view the threat of coronavirus. Some polls, like a recent Quinnipiac University survey, show just one-third of Republicans expressing concern, compared with 68 percent of Democrats. Other pollsters have found a narrower gap — in a recent Public Policy Polling survey, for instance, 44 percent of Republicans said they were concerned versus 67 percent of Democrats. But as you can see in the table below, a partisan split is emerging:

    Democrats are more concerned about coronavirus
    Share of respondents who said that they were either very or somewhat concerned* about themselves, their family members or community members of their community contracting coronavirus

    Pollster Overall Democrats Republicans
    USA Today/Ipsos 54% 62% 48%
    Quinnipiac 54% 68% 35%
    NYT/Survey Monkey 49% 62% 38%
    Economist/YouGov 47% 63% 33%
    Civiqs 45% 67% 24%
    Public Policy Polling 57% 67% 44%

    ರ_ರ

    9 votes
    1. [5]
      stu2b50
      Link Parent
      tfw global pandemics are partisan in America But to be fair, I think the polls now will look very different with Trump sounding the alarms.

      tfw global pandemics are partisan in America

      But to be fair, I think the polls now will look very different with Trump sounding the alarms.

      14 votes
      1. [4]
        Kuromantis
        Link Parent
        Given that he has already lied about Google making a site to contain the virus I doubt it.

        Given that he has already lied about Google making a site to contain the virus I doubt it.

        4 votes
        1. [3]
          JXM
          Link Parent
          Wait, what? Does he not know the difference between a computer virus and a real world virus?!

          Wait, what? Does he not know the difference between a computer virus and a real world virus?!

          1. [2]
            skybrian
            Link Parent
            He garbled it but not like that.

            He garbled it but not like that.

            5 votes
            1. JXM
              Link Parent
              Ah. A site to help manage information. That makes a lot more sense. The fact that I seriously considered the idea that our president thought he could contain a virus on a website should speak to...

              Ah. A site to help manage information. That makes a lot more sense.

              The fact that I seriously considered the idea that our president thought he could contain a virus on a website should speak to the crazy times we live in.

              5 votes
    2. [5]
      Jedi
      Link Parent
      Yeah, my family is pretty far-right—they all think it's overblown. Republicans aren't concerned because Fox is telling them there's nothing to be concerned about. This is particularly dangerous...

      Yeah, my family is pretty far-right—they all think it's overblown. Republicans aren't concerned because Fox is telling them there's nothing to be concerned about.

      This is particularly dangerous because the median age of Fox viewers is 65.

      7 votes
      1. smoontjes
        Link Parent
        Good grief the hypocrisy!

        "Democrats and their media minions"

        Good grief the hypocrisy!

        3 votes
      2. [3]
        joplin
        Link Parent
        How are they handling the empty shelves at the supermarket? Or is that not happening near them?

        How are they handling the empty shelves at the supermarket? Or is that not happening near them?

        2 votes
        1. stu2b50
          Link Parent
          Bay area here, so far at certain times of day I've seen empty shelves, but they get restocked pretty quick. There's even TP at the Safeway nearby me. People are buying things frantically but it's...

          Bay area here, so far at certain times of day I've seen empty shelves, but they get restocked pretty quick. There's even TP at the Safeway nearby me.

          People are buying things frantically but it's also not a hurricane or earthquake; supply lines are still up, things get restocked.

          Even in Italy right now the shelves are stocked.

          6 votes
        2. Diet_Coke
          Link Parent
          I'm in VA and there have been 18 confirmed cases. Yesterday the local news had a lady on who was talking about how she had all the symptoms but couldn't get a test. Schools are closed. Most public...

          I'm in VA and there have been 18 confirmed cases. Yesterday the local news had a lady on who was talking about how she had all the symptoms but couldn't get a test. Schools are closed. Most public spaces like museums and libraries are closed. People are definitely worried. My store had pretty well-stacked shelves. It was a mad house and I overheard a couple employees talking about how busy it had been this weekend. Still, there was hand soap and toilet paper, disinfecting wipes, etc.

          6 votes
  2. [2]
    patience_limited
    Link
    I've already used my one eyeroll emoji for the day. I'm not going to project faux objectivity here - we knew Fox News (the Republican Party propaganda outlet) is a threat to public health, at...

    I've already used my one eyeroll emoji for the day.

    I'm not going to project faux objectivity here - we knew Fox News (the Republican Party propaganda outlet) is a threat to public health, at least in part by contributing to cognitive decline. There's a terrible feedback loop between the Trump administration and Fox which is contributing to coronavirus disinformation and making the crisis worse.

    At the gym last week, an otherwise very decent old gentleman told me he listens to Fox because it's the only news that tells the truth.

    8 votes