Poll: Floridians still cautious of COVID-19

A poll by the University of South Florida and Nielsen finds majorities of Floridians are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 and support measures to slow the rate of infection.

“As more and more services open up, state leaders need to pay attention to these concerns that exist in the backs of people’s minds,” says Dr. Joshua Scacco of USF. “If not for themselves, Floridians are concerned for their friends, someone they know, someone they love.”

The survey found 52% of people are concerned they will contract the coronavirus, with 77% concerned that someone they know will contract the virus.

As a result, 87% of Floridians saying the concern over COVID-19 is “justified” with clear majorities favoring steps to stop the spread of the virus including: 86% supporting stay at home orders, 82% supporting closing public areas, 79% supporting requirements to wear masks in public, and 63% supporting a nightly curfew.

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“What Floridians are doing right now is they are grappling with very real health concerns as well as very real economic concerns,” says Scacco.

Meanwhile, approval for the handling of the pandemic seems to be more favored at the local level with approval for city and county leaders at 69%, approval for state leaders including the governor and legislators at 52%, and federal leaders at 43%.

There is also a split along party line on how people view the federal response, with 52% of Florida Democrats disapproving, while only 10% of Republicans disapprove.

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The statewide survey of 600 Floridians was conducted from April 15-24 with a margin of error +/-4.

See the full survey results below:

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