Poll: Halting Virus Is Bigger Priority Than Saving Economy

Seventy-two percent of Americans say the federal government’s priority should be stopping the coronavirus, while 21% say it should be saving the economy, according to a new Public Agenda/USA Today/Ipsos poll.

The poll results, released Friday, break down like this:

• 43% expect the coronavirus crisis to last a few months, compared to 23% who say it will last at least six months.
• 37% say they are prepared to wait a few months before going back to their normal lives, while 18% say they can wait at least six months.
• 74% say state and local governments are doing everything they can to address the crisis, compared to 50% who say the federal government is doing everything it can.
• 74% of Republicans say the federal government is doing everything it can to address the outbreak, compared to 33% of Democrats who say the same thing.
• 55% say they plan to donate money, supplies or time to help others within the next two weeks, while 28% say they already have.

The poll, conducted March 27-30, surveyed about 1,000 people. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

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