Large majority of Americans worried more about reopening too fast than too slow: poll

Almost 3 out of 4 Americans have concerns that the country is reopening its economy too fast amid the coronavirus pandemic, a new poll from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project finds.

When asked about social distancing restrictions being lifted, 71 percent of those surveyed said they are worried that the restrictions are being lifted too quickly, while 29 percent said that restrictions aren’t being lifted quickly enough.

As calls for the country to reopen continue and grow in strength, around half of all states have rolled back their social distancing restrictions at least to some extent, with states allowing businesses to reopen their doors to varying degrees. Other states have maintained their stay-at-home orders and other restrictions.

“There’s a tendency for people to focus on people who are very loud right now,” Robert Griffin, research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group, said. “But there’s … a real patience that pervades most of American action.”

Along party lines, 83 percent of Democrats said they were worried about loosening restrictions too quickly while 60 percent of Republicans said the same thing.

Just 14 percent said they think it is safe to end stay-at-home orders.

Just 9 percent of those surveyed said they think “it is safe now” for schools and universities to reopen.

The poll was conducted April 23-29, and surveyed 6,708 Americans. The poll’s margin of error was plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.