Despite protests, Americans overwhelmingly favor stay-at-home orders: poll

The vast majority of Americans said they support restrictions put in place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, according to a new poll, despite several crowded protests breaking out across the country against the prevention measures. 

Eight in 10 Americans said they support measures that include requiring Americans to stay at home and limit social gatherings to 10 people or fewer, according to an AP-Norc poll released Wednesday. 

The same poll found that 61 percent of Americans said they think restrictions put in place in their area are about right in response to the pandemic. 

An additional 26 percent said the restrictions don’t go far enough, and just 12 percent said the restrictions go too far, based on the poll. 

A majority of both Republicans and Democrats said the restrictions are about right, but the views are still split by party with Democrats appearing to favor the measures more than Republicans. 

Sixty-two percent of Democrats said the restrictions are about right, 33 percent said they don’t go far enough and just 5 percent said they go too far, based on the poll. 

Fifty-nine percent of Republicans, however, said the restrictions are about right, while 19 percent said they don’t go far enough and 22 percent said they go too far, based on the poll. 

Protests, including crowds of people without face coverings and standing closer together than the recommended 6-foot distance, have broken out in several states in recent days against coronavirus restrictions. 

President Trump has defended protestors, sending conflicting messages over the administration’s response to the pandemic. 

The White House released guidelines last week leaving the decision over when to reopen the economy up to state governors, but recommends states and regions see a decline in documented cases over a period of 14 days. 

The AP-Norc poll surveyed 1,057 adults and was conducted between April 16 and 20. There is a margin of error of 4 percentage points.