Four in 10 (39%) U.S. residents say they already have lost a job or income due to the Coronavirus crisis, the latest KFF Health Tracking Poll finds. This includes most part-time workers (54%), as well as nearly half of parents with children under age 18 (47%) and those paid hourly or by the job (45%).
The poll finds that Americans are already reporting significant pandemic-related problems as the crisis disrupts their lives and threatens their health and finances:
- Nearly half (45%) say that worry and stress related to coronavirus is affecting their mental health – up from 32% two weeks ago. About one in five (19%) say the situation has had a “major impact” on their mental health – including about a quarter of women, Hispanic adults and black adults.
- One-third (34%) say they have been unable to get needed medical care unrelated to coronavirus. A quarter (24%) say they were unable to get prescription medications.
- Overall 72% of the public say the pandemic has disrupted their lives – up 32 percentage points from two weeks ago. The shares reporting disruptions are similar among men and women, among parents and non-parents, and among Democrats, independents and Republicans.
In spite of the health, social and economic upheaval that Americans are already experiencing, about three in four (74%) say that the “worst is yet to come.” The public has significant coronavirus-related worries related to their family’s health and wellbeing, as well as concerns for the nation and the health care system:
For Now, Americans Prioritize Slowing Coronavirus’ Spread over Reopening Businesses
In spite of concerns about its impact on the nation’s economy, a large majority (80%) say “the U.S. should take measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus while more widespread testing becomes available, even if that means many businesses will have to stay closed.”
Far fewer (14%) say “the U.S. should ease up on measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus soon, in order to open business and get the U.S. economy going again, even if that means more people would get coronavirus and could die.”
Designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at Kaiser Family Foundation, the poll was conducted March 25-30, 2020 among a nationally representative random digit dial telephone sample of 1,226 adults.