Poll: Majority who lost work in Colorado over coronavirus oppose reopening right away

A majority of those who lost work in Colorado because of the pandemic oppose reopening the economy right away, according to a poll set to be fully released Thursday.

The survey conducted by Healthier Colorado and the Colorado Health Foundation found 64 percent of those who lost their job, income or paid hours due to the virus backed state policies to keep businesses closed. The survey was taken before Colorado’s stay-at-home order expired on Sunday.

The poll presented respondents with two options for the state: to take measures to reduce the coronavirus, including if businesses stay closed, or to loosen restrictions and reopen the economy “even if that means more people would get coronavirus and could die.”

Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they would prefer for the economy to begin to reopen. 

Demographics who agreed with keeping businesses closed include Democratic-leaning individuals at 80 percent, people on Medicaid at 80 percent, those on Medicare at 74 percent, urban women at 72 percent and seniors aged 65 or older at 70 percent. Among African Americans, 76 percent thought businesses should stay closed. 

The other option of reopening received the support of demographics like Republican men at 55 percent, married men at 38 percent, individuals in rural regions of the state at 40 percent and small towns at 34 percent.

In Colorado, 47 percent of people said they or someone in their household has lost their job, income or paid hours, including 64 percent of people aged 18-29. 

The poll surveyed 1,000 Coloradans from April 15 to 21 with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. 

The state’s stay-at-home order expired on Sunday, but the largest city, Denver, will remain on lockdown until May 8. Gov. Jared Polis (D) announced Sunday that the state will be in a “safer at home” phase for at least 30 days, where it is suggested but not required for residents to stay home.