Most Americans are worried that coronavirus is escalating in their communities, and remain split in their support of how the Trump administration is handling the pandemic, according to a new PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist Poll.
The poll shows 70% of Americans are worried about the spread of COVID-19 in their cities, towns, and neighborhood, the poll of 835 adults, conducted between March 13-14, shows. The numbers are up from 44% in a prior poll released on Feb. 4.
Meanwhile, Americans are split in their opinion about how President Donald Trump and his administration have handled the pandemic and about if they think the virus poses a real threat:
- 49% said they disapprove of the administration's handling.
- 44% say they approve.
- 56% think the virus poses a real threat, down from 66% in February.
- 38% think the virus is blown out of proportion.
The poll also showed that fears of the virus were divided by party:
- 76% of Democrats were most likely to say they felt threatened by the virus.
- 50% of independents feel threatened.
- 40% of Republicans feel threatened.
Americans also trust public health officials, as well as state and local governments, more than Trump or the news media about the epidemic:
- 84% said they trust public health officials.
- 72% trust state and local governments more.
- 50% trust the media more.
- 37% trust Trump more.
The poll carried an overall margin of error of 4.8 percentage points among 835 adults, and a 4.9 percentage point margin of error among 784 registered voters.