Since the COVID vaccines became available in January, there has been a roughly 80% decline in the number of reported cases and deaths from the virus. However, just 36% of voters nationwide are aware of the progress. A Scott Rasmussen survey found that 24% believe it is not true and 40% are not sure.
This may reflect the fact that 87% of national media coverage about the pandemic has been negative. National media coverage in the United States has been far more negative than coverage in scientific journals and other nations.
Forty-one percent (41%) of Democrats are aware of the progress along with 36% of Republicans. Only 29% of Independent voters recognize how much of an improvement there has been.
Interestingly, however, Democrats remain far more pessimistic about the pandemic than other voters.
By a 60% to 18% margin, Republicans believe the worst is behind us. A solid plurality (46% to 24%) of Independents agree. Democrats are somewhat less convinced. Forty-three percent (43%) of those in President Biden’s party believe the worst is behind us while 31% believe it is yet to come.
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Note: Neither Scott Rasmussen, ScottRasmussen.com, nor RMG Research, Inc. have any affiliation with Rasmussen Reports. While Scott Rasmussen founded that firm, he left more than seven years ago and has had no involvement since that time.
Methodology
The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted by Scott Rasmussen using a mixed mode approach from April 29-May 1, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Most respondents were contacted online or via text while 241 were contacted using automated phone polling techniques. Online respondents were selected from a list of Registered Voters and through a process of Random Digital Engagement. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.