40% of Americans say the country would do better in responding to a future health emergency compared with the response to COVID-19 | Pew Research Center

February 10, 2025

1. Americans’ views on COVID-19 risk and the country’s response to health emergencies

40% of Americans say the country would do better in responding to a future health emergency compared with the response to COVID-19

40% of Americans say the country would do better in responding to a future health emergency compared with the response to COVID-19

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40% of Americans say the country would do better in responding to a future health emergency compared with the response to COVID-19

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1. Americans’ views on COVID-19 risk and the country’s response to health emergencies
21% of Americans still see COVID-19 as a major public health threat
60% of Democrats worry we’re not taking COVID-19 seriously enough, 76% of Republicans disagree
Majority says it’s important for people with cold-like symptoms to avoid contact with vulnerable people
Democrats more likely than Republicans to say it’s important for sick people to take steps that can prevent spreading illness
Very few Americans say they have worn a mask frequently in stores or businesses in the past month
Mask-wearing in stores and businesses is now rare among both Democrats and Republicans
Republicans say there should have been fewer COVID restrictions, but Democrats say they were about right
Most Americans give high marks to hospitals’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Large partisan divides over how U.S. public health officials, Biden and Trump responded to COVID-19
40% of Americans say the country would do better in responding to a future health emergency compared with the response to COVID-19
Republicans are evenly divided over how well the U.S. public health system would handle a future health emergency