This tracker is no longer being updated. Explore more coverage on the Return to Normal here.
Updated: May 10, 2023 | By Matt Bracken
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Morning Consult has surveyed thousands of Americans to gauge the effects of the coronavirus on public opinion and behaviors across a wide range of categories, from politics and economics to shopping and dining. As the country transitions into a “new normal,” Morning Consult continues to closely monitor how American attitudes are shifting in these later stages of the pandemic.
The Views on the Pandemic tracker examines how the public feels about COVID-19’s continuing impacts on health, politics and the economy by examining attitudes toward vaccines, political and institutional handling of the coronavirus, economic impacts of the pandemic and more.
This tracker is updated monthly alongside Return to Normal: Consumer Comfort, which monitors the public’s comfort engaging in various socializing, entertainment and travel activities.
The historical Return to Normal tracking pages are available in full here.
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KEY TRENDS
Congress’ Net Approval on Coronavirus Jumps: Net approval for Congress’ handling of COVID-19 has surged to its highest level since the onset of the pandemic in April 2020. At plus 9, 48% of voters approve of Congress’ performance on the coronavirus, while 39% disapprove.
Uptick in Biden’s Net Approval on Coronavirus: As the public health emergency ends, President Joe Biden’s standing with voters over his handling of COVID-19 climbed to plus 7 (50% approve, 43% disapprove), its highest level since August 2021. Biden’s net approval among Republicans on COVID-19 rose to minus 58 (18% approve, 76% disapprove), its highest level since July 2021.
Slim Majority of Public Backs Vaccine Mandates: At least half of U.S. adults support COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal, state and local government employees, as well as employers and schools, while 49% say the same for businesses.
RISK AND CONCERN
Share of vaccinated and unvaccinated U.S. adults who say they are “very” or “somewhat” concerned about the delta and omicron variants
The share of U.S. adults who say the following entities should require a COVID-19 vaccination for employees, residents or patrons:
Share of U.S. adults who are “very” concerned about coronavirus outbreak, by generation
The share of U.S. adults who say the coronavirus is a severe health risk in their local community
POLITICAL IMPACT
Net approval (approval minus disapproval) among registered voters of Biden’s handling of the coronavirus
Net approval (approval minus disapproval) among registered voters of each of the following’s handling of the coronavirus:
ABOUT
Methodology
Morning Consult’s Return to Normal: Views of the Pandemic relies on a monthly survey that measures Americans’ perceptions of vaccines, political and institutional leadership in handling the coronavirus, the economic cost and more. The latest results are based on a survey of 2,202 U.S. adults, conducted May 4-7, 2023.
As of May 2023, Morning Consult is no longer updating its Return to Normal: Views of the Pandemic tracker. If you have any questions, please reach out to press@morningconsult.com.
About Morning Consult
Morning Consult is a global decision intelligence company changing how modern leaders make smarter, faster, better decisions. The company pairs its proprietary high-frequency data with applied artificial intelligence to better inform decisions on what people think and how they will act. Learn more at morningconsult.com.
Email press@morningconsult.com to speak with a member of the Morning Consult team.