Poll: Americans still worried about coronavirus, fewer believe it's getting worse

Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A Gallup survey released Monday found a modest reduction in the number of U.S. residents saying the COVID-19 pandemic was "getting worse."

The new survey, taken from Dec. 25 to Jan.3, indicated that 63% of those surveyed believed the pandemic was getting worse in the United States, compared to 73% who said the same in the previous survey in late November.

Of those surveyed, 18% said the pandemic is "getting better," up 6 points from the November poll while 20% said it is about the same, an improvement of 5 points.

"Americans remain pessimistic about the coronavirus situation, as has been the case since June," Gallup said. "The U.S. is on pace in January to have the highest number of cases and deaths so far, and Americans' assessments of the situation are likely to remain gloomy.

"Although the development of multiple vaccines offers hope, the continuing surge in cases and deaths since November, and the arrival of potentially more contagious mutations of the virus, make it clear the nation is still not close to putting the pandemic behind it," Gallup said.

Political affiliation continues to be a dividing line in how many view the coronavirus situation. In the new survey, 83% of Democrats and 59% of independents believe the pandemic is getting worse while 38% think the same thing.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they worry about catching the coronavirus, down a point since the November survey.

Gallup interviewed 3,104 adults for the survey with a margin of error of 3%.