More Americans concerned about lack of social distancing: poll

A majority of Americans in a new survey for the first time said they are concerned about a lack of social distancing in their area, according to Gallup.

The survey, taken from June 22-28, found that 54 percent of respondents said they are now concerned. The level of concern reached a low of 41 percent in late May and percentages hovered in the 40s most of April and May, Gallup noted.

Nineteen percent of respondents said in the new poll that they are “very worried,” while 35 percent are “moderately worried,” 25 percent are “not too worried” and 21 percent are “not worried at all.”

Despite continued outbreaks of the coronavirus, particularly in southern and western states, the survey found no major variation in worry about social distancing by region. It did find a continued political gap in concern, with 77 percent of Democrats concerned about social distancing versus 24 percent of Republicans.

Americans who say they have publicly worn masks in the last seven days also hit a new high of 86 percent, up from 51 percent in early April. Only 11 percent of respondents said they have not considered wearing one, compared to 3 percent who said they are considering it.

Majorities of Republicans, with 66 percent, and independents, with 85 percent, both reported wearing a mask in public in the last week, and nearly all Democrats, at 98 percent, said the same. The 32-point gap between Republicans and Democrats on the issue is the largest Gallup has yet recorded.

Gallup surveyed a random sample of 3,454 adults who are part of its panel for the poll. Its results have a 3-point margin of error for individual samples, with a higher margin of error for subgroups.