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Celerity

(42,628 posts)
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 01:04 AM Feb 2022

Americans Are Frustrated With the Pandemic. These Polls Show How Much.

The balance of recent surveys suggests that the desire to return to normalcy has approached or even overtaken alarm about the coronavirus itself.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/us/politics/covid-restrictions-americans.html



A wave of polls taken as the Omicron variant crested across much of the United States shows new signs that the public’s resolve to combat the coronavirus pandemic is waning. The surveys depict an increasingly frustrated and pessimistic nation that is as worried by the spectre of an endless pandemic as it is fearful of the disease. While a majority of voters remain concerned about the coronavirus, the balance of recent polling suggests that the desire to return to normalcy has approached or even overtaken alarm about the virus itself.

A recent Yahoo News/YouGov survey found that 46 percent of respondents thought Americans should “learn to live with” the pandemic “and get back to normal,” while just 43 percent thought “we need to do more to vaccinate, wear masks and test.” A Republican firm, Echelon Insights, had similar findings, reporting that 55 percent of voters thought Covid-19 should be “treated as an endemic disease that will never fully go away,” like the flu, while 38 percent said it should be “treated as a public health emergency.”

The results are especially striking at a time when coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and even deaths are near record highs. Indeed, the same polls showed that the public’s concern about the virus increased during the Omicron wave. But in a telling indication of the public’s attitudes toward the pandemic, greater worry about the virus has not translated to greater support for measures to stop its spread. Instead, fears of the virus apparently have been outweighed by mounting frustration with the inconveniences of a pandemic that has stretched into its second year. Three-quarters of adults described themselves as tired or frustrated with the pandemic in a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey.

Fully 70 percent of Americans agreed with the statement that “it’s time we accept Covid is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives” in a recent poll by Monmouth University. That survey found that support for vaccine mandates has dropped to just 43 percent from 53 percent in September, while support for masking and social distancing guidelines dropped to 52 percent from 63 percent over the same period. The findings come at a possible turning point in the pandemic, as several Democratic governors announced intentions to ease some mask mandates over the next month. The growing frustration with pandemic restrictions may help explain some of those early announcements — even as cases reach record levels.

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Celerity

(42,628 posts)
4. what is holding the US back from much of the rest of the advanced West are the tens of millions of
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 01:09 AM
Feb 2022

American antivaxxers

Lovie777

(11,986 posts)
5. Blue states have a high % of vaccinated . . .
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 01:42 AM
Feb 2022

High % of mask wearing too. Blue states will slowly return somewhat to normal with precautions. Same with majority of the world. Over 900,000 have died from Sars 2 Covid and still dying (mostly unvaccinated), approx. 400 million across the earth. Countless pre-existing conditions due to the virus.

Apparently Omicorn short circuited itself and seems like Delta as well by high inflection rates, fingers crossed.

The vaccinations and masking worked.

littlemissmartypants

(22,417 posts)
6. Thanks for sharing this. ❤
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 02:36 AM
Feb 2022

But aren't we in the third year? Confusing. I know I haven't had a hug since March 3rd, 2020 when I ran into some friends while voting in the primary and I'm a hugger.

Bookmarking this so I can go back to it after a while and see the actual outcome.

Thanks again, Celerity.

electric_blue68

(14,598 posts)
7. At least here in NYC we'll be starting our 😑 3rd year around March 9th.
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 02:46 AM
Feb 2022

I'm still doing all the stuff, and about 92+% of my neighbors are masked up. 👍

vercetti2021

(10,150 posts)
8. At this point
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 02:50 AM
Feb 2022

We might as well accept its gonna be around like a flu. Those who will get vaxxed, wear masks will be the ones that are smart about it. We can live our lives, be safe. The others can all get sick and fucking die from it for all I care now. We all wanna live and enjoy.

LizBeth

(9,946 posts)
9. I think most are looking at getting thru winter then moving on.
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 12:12 PM
Feb 2022

Variants are becoming less deadly and we are more protected by vaccs leaving only the stupid who are unvacced. With summer I think it will be behind us. Just a guess and who knows. Patterns and last couple years experience.

Hugin

(32,769 posts)
10. This explains why at least a fifth of all reported world-wide COVID deaths are in the US.
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 12:21 PM
Feb 2022

There are too many who want the cake without the baking.

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