Almost three-quarters of adults living in the United States are afraid that the coronavirus will diminish their personal freedoms.
According to a Hill-HarrisX poll released on Monday, 74% of respondents said they fear losing liberties as a result of the pandemic. The survey, which was taken from April 6 to 7, was conducted as governors around the nation began implementing aggressive social distancing policies.
At that time, many governors had placed bans on gatherings of more than 10 people and barred residents from eating in restaurants, visiting movie theaters, and going to work for businesses deemed nonessential. The survey was taken before many states had ramped up their restrictions, triggering protests across the nation, including demonstrations against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s ban on selling nonessential items.
With many states barring nonessential workplaces from functioning, 43% of respondents reported fears of losing their jobs. More than 21 million people have been added to the jobless numbers since the pandemic hit the U.S.
While many were concerned about losing personal liberties or their jobs, more people said they are afraid of catching the virus. Eighty-three percent of respondents reported that they were concerned about contracting COVID-19.
The poll included responses from 1,000 registered voters. The margin of error was 3.1 percentage points.
