Poll: Americans who say they are taking steps against coronavirus surges to nearly 100 percent

Nearly 100 percent of Americans said in a new poll that they are taking precautions against the coronavirus, an increase of almost 30 percentage points from mid-March.

Ninety-four percent of respondents in an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll said they are avoiding large groups to reduce the odds of contracting or transmitting the virus, up from 68 percent in March. Eighty-six percent in the new survey said they are avoiding other people in general as much as possible.

The percentage reporting taking other precautions has also increased, with 52 percent now saying they have stocked up on extra food, compared with 35 percent in March. Similarly, 92 percent said they are washing their hands more often, a 4 point increase, and 70 percent are avoiding touching their faces, up 11 points from March.

The poll found little difference by region in how likely people were to say they are taking precautions, even though eight governors have not imposed stay-at-home orders. Respondents from states without such orders before March 26 were about as likely to say they are avoiding contact as those subject to an earlier order.

However, the poll found a partisan split when it came to high levels of concern about the virus; 35 percent of Republicans said they are extremely or very worried, compared to 61 percent of Democrats who said the same. Forty-percent of Republicans said they are somewhat worried, and about 25 percent of GOP respondents said they are not worried.

Pollsters surveyed 1,057 adults from March 26-29, selecting them randomly through an address-based model and later interviewing them online or by phone. The survey has a 4.1-point margin of error.