The American public’s perceptions of the coronavirus crisis and government efforts to deal with it are critically important. Americans are being asked to go along with dramatic mandates and recommendations for changes in their daily lives. If Americans define the situation as real, they will accept these consequences as real and necessary. If Americans have doubts about the legitimacy of the crisis or the government’s actions, their cooperation could begin to fray.
Events surrounding the virus situation have been extraordinarily fast-moving, meaning that public opinion on the topic is also a fast-changing target. Gallup is continuing to update our surveys on the virus and its consequences, and other survey organizations are providing insights as well. What follows is my review of 10 important findings from the data on hand as of now, with the realization that much can and probably will change. CONT.
Frank Newport, Gallup