Most Americans don’t think gatherings will be safe until at least June: poll

Most Americans said they do not expect it will be safe to have social gatherings until at least June, according to a new poll. 

Sixty-five percent of Americans surveyed said they expect the coronavirus pandemic to be controlled enough to allow for gatherings of more than 10 people by the end of June or later, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll released Tuesday. 

The poll found that 20 percent believe it will have to be at least the end of June for such gatherings to take place, 13 percent said they expected that to be by end of July, 19 percent said later in 2020 and 13 percent said longer than that.

Just 9 percent of respondents said it would be safe to allow for gatherings by the end of the month, while 21 percent said it would be safe by the end of May, according to the poll. 

The poll comes as officials weigh when to lift restrictions in place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and reopen economies. 

The White House released guidelines last week that leave the ultimate decision up to governors, but President Trump has also shown support for protests demonstrating against restrictions in states. 

The Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found 54 percent of respondents said President Trump’s response to the pandemic was not good and 44 percent said it was good. 

But the poll found that 72 percent said their state governor’s response was good and just 26 percent said their governor’s response was not good. 

Some governors have announced plans to begin reopening some businesses, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) who said gyms, hair and nail salons and bowling alleys will be allowed to open Friday. 

The poll was conducted April 14-19 and surveyed 1,013 adults. There is a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.