Poll: 70% of Americans Want The Government To Focus On Public Health In Coronavirus Response

A poll released earlier this week showed the majority of Americans want the government to focus on public safety instead of profits in the coronavirus response.

According to Forbes, the poll, released Thursday by CBS News and YouGov, showed 30% of people surveyed said the government’s priority should be restarting the economy. The poll fell mostly along partisan lines with 91% of Democrats and 69% of Independents favoring focusing on public health. Fifty-two percent of Republicans say the economy should take precedence.

Anti-quarantine protests have taken place in several states including Colorado, California, and Michigan. However, the poll showed little public support. Less than 25% of the poll’s respondents said they support the protests, and less than 10% think that Trump should encourage them. The protests initially had the support of President Trump, but even he’s changing his tune. Trump criticized Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s plan to reopen businesses on Wednesday.

Less than 50% said they would be comfortable going to work and less than 15% said they would attend a large entertainment or sports event. However, 54% of respondents are getting cabin fever saying they would be willing to visit their friends.

The numbers are an indication that although Americans are hurting financially, they want the government to choose people over profits. More than 20 million people are currently unemployed and many Americans have said they already need another relief payment.

A Politico poll conducted last week showed 81% of Americans believe the country “should continue to maintain social distance for as long as is needed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, even if it means continued damage to the economy. Just 10% of Americans believe they “should stop social distancing to stimulate the economy, even if it means increasing the spread of coronavirus.”

Since the outbreak began, President Trump’s response has been repeatedly criticized with some describing his response as erratic at best and dangerous at worst.