Americans’ optimism on COVID-19 plummets: Gallup

Americans’ optimism about the coronavirus pandemic has plummeted over the last month, according to a new poll. 

More Americans in the Gallup survey released Monday say the coronavirus situation in the U.S. is getting worse rather than better, 45 to 40 percent. By comparison, 89 percent said in June that they felt the situation was getting better.

The new poll also found 41 percent of Americans expect COVID-19 “disruptions” to continue through the end of the year, and 42 percent now believe they will stretch into 2022, up 17 percent from June. 

Twenty-nine percent of respondents, meanwhile, indicated they are very or somewhat worried about getting the virus, up from 17 percent in June. The level of concern about contracting the virus returned to the level recorded in April, when 30 percent said they were worried about becoming infected. 

The survey results come as nationwide vaccination rates tick up amid a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the highly transmissible delta variant.

Several private companies and some government agencies in recent weeks have announced policies requiring workers to be fully vaccinated against the virus as a condition of employment or undergo regular testing and wear a mask on the job. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week changed its guidance to recommend all Americans in certain portions of the country with higher infection rates wear a mask while indoors, regardless of vaccination status. 

On Sunday, Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, said it is unlikely the United States will return to lockdown measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. 

The new Gallup poll found more Americans, 41 percent, say the better advice for healthy people is to stay home as much as possible to avoid spreading the virus, as opposed to living their lives as they normally would. 

The survey was conducted July 19-26 among 3,475 adults and has a margin of error of 2 percentage points.