Poll: 81 percent fear second coronavirus wave

More than 80 percent of respondents are at least somewhat worried about a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic rocking the country, according to the latest Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index.

All states have rolled back their pandemic restriction to varying degrees, and there have been signs of rising cases, particularly in Sun Belt states such as Texas, Arizona and California.

In the poll, which has been tracking Americans’ opinions on the pandemic over three months, 81 percent said they were at least somewhat worried about a second wave.

Sixty-four percent of respondents said that returning to pre-coronavirus lifestyles would be risky, up from 57 percent a week ago.

Additionally, 54 percent said that they were either extremely or very concerned about the outbreak, an increase of 8 points.

If a second wave does occur, the majority of respondents in the poll said that they would go back to more stringent social distancing practices. Nearly two-thirds said that they would be likely or very likely to self-quarantine and 85 percent said that they would take steps to social distance.

Respondents also viewed dine-in eating, retail shopping and going to a barber or salon as more risky than in the previous week.

Almost 90 percent said they thought going to one of the nationwide protests would put their health at risk, while 74 percent said that attending a July 4th celebration would do the same.

The weekly survey has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.