Trust in Institutions

Polling finds public trust in medical scientists has increased but only among Democrats – while optimism about a vaccine is broadly shared.

About six-in-ten Americans believe social distancing measures are helping a lot to slow the spread of coronavirus in the nation.

The last year the Postal Service recorded any profit was 2006, and its cumulative losses since then totaled $83.1 billion as of March 31.

More Americans hold positive than negative views of the news media’s COVID-19 coverage, but Republicans and Democrats remain starkly divided.

As the U.S. confronts the coronavirus outbreak, Americans continue to rate a wide range of federal agencies favorably, including two at the forefront of dealing with COVID-19.

Many U.S. news organizations are covering the coronavirus pandemic while themselves facing financial pressure from the outbreak.

Americans see “social distancing” measures urged by public health officials to limit the spread of COVID-19 as generally appropriate.

About a third of Americans register low levels of trust in other people, versus 29% who are “high trusters” and 32% who are “medium trusters.”

Responses to cable news coverage and the pandemic vary notably among Americans who identify Fox News, MSNBC or CNN as their main source of political news.

71% of U.S. adults say they are confident that medical centers in their area can handle the needs of seriously ill people during the pandemic.