Two years later, Americans’ concern about COVID-19 has fallen to its lowest level since CBS News poll began tracing it to the spring 2020, but they are not prepared to say that the pandemic is over. Most anticipate lasting vigilance, including the need for more reinforcements, and most expect more variants on the road, though less dangerous. Few think the virus will go away completely next year.
On a personal level, many say the pandemic has left lasting changes in their own lives, both in their way of life and in their way of working.
Where are we now and where are we going?
People are now more optimistic about the coronavirus situation, but relatively few consider it over. Republicans and Conservatives, who have long been less concerned, are more likely to say the outbreak is over, even though only half of them feel that way.
As worries have eased a bit, they are more comfortable going out in public places like restaurants, meeting friends, and boarding a plane than they are. he did a year ago. Americans who express concern about getting the virus also feel more comfortable doing these things, although they are still less likely to do so than those who are not concerned about the virus, a pattern we have seen during the pandemic. .
And as more people return to work in person, more Americans (70%) now say they would feel comfortable in a workplace away from home than they did a year ago (57%).
Some COVID restrictions are now being eased. States have begun lifting mask mandates, and most Americans do not believe their state should have a mask mandate now, an investment of opinion only last month.
Most believe that mask mandates are being lifted due to declining COVID cases, but they also believe that politics and the fact that people are tired of wearing them also play a role.
We’ve seen some decline in support for mask mandates between demographic groups since last month. Most Democrats, those living in cities and those concerned about the virus, still think that their state should have a masked mandate, but support for this has also diminished some of these groups. Those who support a masked warrant are especially likely to say the pandemic is still going on.
Two years of COVID: public concern and evaluation of US efforts
In general, we can see the recent change in the assessments of efforts to combat the virus and the concern for it, which have tended to follow the number of cases. Sixty-one percent of Americans now say efforts to contain the virus are going well, 10 points more than the end last monthand the highest since spring i summer months of last year, a time when cases tended to decline.
Over the past two years, most have been at least a little worried about getting the virus, and most are still, but the concern has eased a bit recently and is now at its lowest point so far.
And when Americans are asked to choose which issue is the most important the country faces, the economy and inflation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine outweigh the coronavirus.
While they now feel more comfortable going out than they did a year ago, those who remain concerned about the virus are more likely to suspect that we will see more dangerous variants and less likely to say the pandemic is over.
Lasting changes for many
Millions say the pandemic has brought lasting changes to their own lives, from the way they manage their own health to their personal relationships as well as their political views. This personal impact has been felt most among those most concerned about the virus.
Most of those who have worked from home at some point say that the pandemic has led to changes in the way they do their work.
This CBS News / YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,088 adult US residents interviewed between March 8 and 11, 2022. The sample was weighted by gender, age. , race and education according to the U.S. Census Survey of the U.S. Census and Current Population Survey, as well as the 2020 presidential vote. The margin of error is ± 2.6 points.
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