Declining Concern Over COVID-19 Health Threat Across Political Spectrum: Pew Research Survey

The latest survey by the Pew Research Center has revealed a significant drop in concern about the health threat posed by COVID-19 among Americans. According to the survey, only 20% of all Americans now consider the virus to be a “major threat” to the health of the U.S. population as a whole.

Interestingly, the survey also found that the level of concern varies across political lines, with 12% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents and 28% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents viewing the virus as a major threat.

This decline in concern marks a stark contrast to the levels of worry seen two years ago, when 41% of Americans believed COVID-19 was a major threat to public health. The Pew survey also highlighted that in 2022, 57% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and 20% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents shared this view.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidance on COVID-19 isolation, no longer recommending a five-day quarantine period for those who test positive. Instead, the CDC now advises individuals to stay home when sick, even if the cause of their illness is unknown, and to return to their regular routine once they feel better and have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication.

Despite the decreasing levels of concern, CDC Director Mandy Cohen emphasized the importance of continuing to take precautions such as vaccination, treatment, and staying home when sick to protect against serious illness from respiratory viruses.

The Pew survey was conducted between Feb. 7-11 and included a sample size of 10,133 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points. The findings provide valuable insights into the evolving perceptions of Americans towards the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.