More than half of Americans say it’s likely they won’t comply with another month-long lockdown despite 61 per cent believing that the virus is getting worse, according to a new Gallup poll.
According to the survey, only 49 per cent of participants said they would be very likely to abide by new lockdown restrictions as cases in the US continue to surge.
In comparison, this number is much different to the 67 per cent who said they would shelter-in-place when the pandemic began in late March and early April.
The poll shows that 33 per cent of Americans would be very or somewhat unlikely to comply with another lockdown.
Scroll down for video
According to a new Gallup poll, only 49 per cent of participants said they would be very likely to abide by new lockdown restrictions as cases in the US continue to surge
Even though a third of the respondents say they are less likely to abide by new lockdown restrictions if any are implemented, the majority of the participants revealed that they believe the outbreak is only going to get worse. A total of 61% believe the situation is worsening
About 18 per cent said they would be somewhat likely to follow advice for health officials.
Even though a third of the respondents say they are less likely to abide by new lockdown restrictions if any are implemented, the majority of the participants revealed that they believe the outbreak is only going to get worse.
A total of 61 per cent of Americans believe the situation is getting worse compared to 40 per cent in April.
That sharp contrast is likely due to the record-breaking cases that have been reported across the US as health officials warn that the winter could be brutal.
While this particular poll was taken between October 19 through November 1, areas like the Midwest were seeing spikes in cases on a daily basis.
Currently, coronavirus hospitalizations and infections hit single-day highs in the US with the number of patients spiking to 65,000 and daily infections hitting 143,132.
Deaths also reached a high of almost 1,900 in a day for the first time since May.
One theory behind why more people say they are less likely to stay home, is because their confidence in mask-wearing as a form of protection from the virus has risen
About 82 per cent of Americans now believe masks are working in comparison to the 68 per cent from mid-April. And now about 88 per cent of Americans say they are wearing masks
There are more than 10 million cases of the virus in the US and more than 241,000 deaths have been reported. Texas alone has surpassed 1 million cases and now has more infections than all of Italy, which was one of the first COVID-19 hotspots in the world.
Deaths, however, are still about half what they were during the April peak with the average fatality rate at just under 1,000 per day. Fatalities are a lagging indicator and can rise weeks after infections because it takes time for people to get sick and die.
In addition to worry that the virus may get worse before it gets any better, the poll also shows a national divide between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to willingness to stay home.
According to Gallup, 40 per cent of Republicans are willing to stay home versus 87 per cent of Democrats who would comply with stay-at-home orders.
One theory behind why more people say they are less likely to stay home, is because their confidence in mask-wearing as a form of protection from the virus has risen.
About 82 per cent of Americans now believe masks are working in comparison to the 68 per cent from mid-April. Researchers forecast that 63 million lives could be saved if most Americans wear masks and social distance.
Researchers forecast that 63 million lives could be saved if most Americans wear masks and social distance
It took some Americans about a month before the practice of mask-wearing became a part of their every day routine with only 51 per cent wearing masks in mid-April to 80 per cent in early May.
That percentage was highest in July at 90 per cent and is now around 88 per cent.
And while no one wants to go back into a lockdown, president elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 chief believes that shutting down businesses nationally for between four to six weeks could prevent the US from entering ‘Covid hell’.
Dr Michael Osterholm said Wednesday that a national lockdown may be the best way to keep hospitalizations and deaths down across the country until a vaccine can be distributed.
He claims that the country’s economy will not suffer as a result, if enough money is borrowed to pay wages during the shutdowns.
Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, is one of the public health experts that the Biden transition team has appointed to its advisory panel.
Dr Michael Osterholm, who was appointed to Joe Biden’s COVID-19 task force on Monday, suggests that the US should go into a national four- to six-week lockdown
Biden says that the advisory board ‘will help shape my approach to managing the surge in reported infections’.
Despite Osterholm’s calls for a national lockdown, Dr Anthony Fauci says he wants to avoid that because there is ‘no appetite for locking down the American public’.
He has insisted that a national lockdown doesn’t need to happen if people adhere to public health measures like mask-wearing and hand-washing.
‘We would like to stay away from that because there’s no appetite for locking down the American public. I believe we can do it without a lockdown,’ Fauci told ABC’s GMA.
‘You don’t necessarily have to shut everything down. The best opposite strategy to locking down is to intensify the public health measures short of locking down. If you can do that well, you don’t have to take that step… which has so many implications both psychologically and economically.
‘Help is on the way. Vaccines are going to have a major positive impact.’
Several states posted record numbers of cases on Tuesday, including over 12,600 new cases in Illinois, 10,800 in Texas and 7,000 in Wisconsin.
California and several states across the Midwest have now started tightening restrictions on residents.
Meanwhile, New York, which was once the epicenter of the virus, is also experiencing a spike. New York Gov Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday began efforts to stave off the ‘second wave’ of COVID-19.
Infections across the country hit a record high of 144,133 cases on Wednesday. New cases have continued to soar to all-time highs of more than 120,000 per day over the past week
The US death toll spiked to 1,893 on Wednesday, which is the highest number of fatalities since May 8 during the initial peak of the outbreak. The average number of deaths, which are a lagging indicator and can potentially rise weeks after infections, are still down from the peak 2,000 fatalities recorded per day in the spring
As well as forcing bars and restaurants to close by 10pm, Cuomo is limiting gatherings in private residences to 10 people and say he may reduce the capacity restaurants and bars can have indoors if numbers continue.
The statewide COVID-19 rate increased to 2.9 per cent which is the highest it has been for months and deaths are increasing in some parts of the state but not all.
In New York City, deaths have been holding steady despite the rising infection rate.
It delivers yet another blow to the restaurant and bar industry which was only allowed to resume indoor dining at a 25 per cent capacity last month.
Cuomo said during his press briefing that anyone who doesn’t comply with the new order will receive a summons ordering them to shut down.
‘Losing money hurts but money can be replaced. Losing a loved one is forever. If the lights are on and people are drinking, they get a summons,’ he said.
The number of hospitalizations across the US also continues to spike to single-day highs with more than 65,000 patients currently being treated
Outdoor dining can continue into the winter months if restaurants and bars can facilitate it.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, echoing Cuomo’s tone of alarm on Wednesday, said: ‘This is our LAST chance to stop a second wave. We can do it, but we have to act NOW.’
New Jersey Gov Phil Murphy also followed suit and announced the closing of businesses at 10pm, which goes into effect on Thursday.
According to state health officials, New Jersey on Tuesday announced its highest daily case total since April at 3,877. The state also recorded its highest death toll since July with 21 deaths.
‘Our numbers have gone up dramatically. Everything is going in the wrong direction. This second wave is without question upon us,’ Murphy said on the Today show.
Murphy explained that people have been ‘letting their guard down, particularly in and around bars’.
The governor pleaded with New Jersey residents: ‘Don’t let your hair down even when you’re in your own home, even when you’re celebrating holidays with your loved ones.’
In New Jersey, outdoor dining can continue after 10pm, as can takeout and delivery services. Seating at the physical bar in the indoor areas of bars and restaurants will be prohibited during all operating hours, according to the state.