While Trump continues his rush to reopen the country before he’s implemented the national testing strategy, two new polls released today from the Associated Press and Quinnipiac University make it clear that the American people side with the experts warning that opening too quickly will lead to more infections and deaths.
See below for highlights from the new polls:
- 83% of Americans are “at least somewhat concerned that lifting restrictions in their area will lead to additional infections”
- While a majority (54%) are “extremely concerned” that lifting restrictions will “result in a spike of COVID-19 cases.”
- Around roughly six in ten Americans say that widespread testing, alongside wearing face masks and social distancing, is needed in order to reopen the economy.
- And 75% of Americans would rather have the country reopen slowly, “even if it makes the economy worse.”
President Trump is yet to implement the national testing strategy experts say is necessary to safely reopen the country, but that hasn’t stopped him from pushing states to do so.
After he ignored medical experts and allowed social distancing guidelines for states to expire on May 1st, governors that followed his lead and reopened have seen an increase in coronavirus cases.