More than three in four respondents have faith in the federal government to contain the coronavirus as the deadly illness continues to spread throughout China and other countries.
Coronavirus has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people worldwide, but 77% of those asked by Gallup in a poll released Thursday believe in the federal government’s ability to contain the illness. Just 22% reported having no confidence in the federal government’s ability to protect Americans from the virus.
Much of the trust likely stems from the minimal impact the illness has had on Americans compared with other countries around the world. Globally, more than 76,000 people have been infected, but only 15 people in the United States have a confirmed case of coronavirus with 52 other potential cases under investigation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Respondents were more confident in the Trump administration’s ability to defend Americans from coronavirus than they were during other outbreaks and administrations. In 2017, 64% of respondents had faith in the Trump administration’s ability to contain the Zika virus.
Under the Obama administration, just 58% trusted the federal government to contain Ebola in 2014 while 67% had faith in the administration’s ability to contain swine flu in 2009. In 2005, just 54% trusted the Bush administration to prevent bird flu from spreading in the U.S.
The confidence in the Trump administration’s ability to respond to coronavirus has not been reflected in the remarks made by 2020 Democrats about the virus. Elizabeth Warren called Trump’s response to the illness “a mess,” while Joe Biden called Trump the “worst possible leader” to manage coronavirus.
Although respondents were confident in the federal government’s ability to protect Americans from the illness, they also feared the impact it could have on the economy. Nearly two-thirds of respondents claimed they felt coronavirus would negatively affect the economy, including 16% who feared it would have a “very negative effect.”
Gallup surveyed 1,028 adults from Feb. 3 to Feb. 16. The margin of error was 4%.
