Most Americans oppose anti-lockdown protests — even across party lines, poll finds
While much attention has been paid to demonstrations against coronavirus lockdown measuresacross the nation in recent days, relatively few Americans — 22 percent — actually support the protesters, according to the results of a nationwide survey published Monday.
Meanwhile, 60 percent said they stand opposed to the protests, the YouGov and Yahoo News survey found, and that’s not just Democrats.
Nearly half of Republicans surveyed, 47 percent, also said they were opposed, while 36 percent were in favor.
Protests demanding that restrictions put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus be lifted were held in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida and elsewhere over the weekend, outlets reported.
With regards to reopening the economy, 71 percent of respondents said they were more worried about lifting restrictions “too quickly,” and 29 percent were worried about lifting them “too slowly.”
Most said they had concerns over a potential resurgence in coronavirus cases if the economy were “reopened now,” with 51 percent saying they think a resurgence would be very likely, with 36 percent saying somewhat likely, and 12 percent saying it would be unlikely.
However, some parts of the country are moving forward with their reopening plans.
In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster peeled back several restrictions Monday, allowing many nonessential businesses to resume operations, and reopening the state’s beaches, according to The State.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is taking similar steps, the Macon Telegraph reported, and numerous businesses currently shuttered could be open by Friday, including gyms, salons, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys.
The majority of those surveyed, 74 percent, said it should be up to their state’s governor to decide when and how to reopen, though 13 percent would have preferred President Donald Trump to make those calls.
Finally, 71 percent said America should wait to reopen until “public health officials are fully able to test and trace new cases and outbreaks,” the survey said.
There are questions about whether or not America can conduct sufficient coronavirus testing at present, with many experts, and even some governors, saying the country isn’t there yet.
Maryland governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, told CNN that a lack of testing is the country’s top issue in combating the epidemic and “has been since the beginning of the crisis.”