Most think it, some say it out loud, and a new poll confirmed it: If everyone followed mask and social distancing rules, a majority of Americans would eagerly return to their normal activities.
In the latest “Back-to-Normal Barometer,” which Secrets has been tracking for months, nearly 8-in-10 would willingly go back to living like they did before the coronavirus if others played by the rules.
Said the analysis shared with us, “78% of Americans agree that if everyone they encountered outside their home on a daily basis wore a proper face covering and stayed six feet apart from each other, they would be more likely to engage in their typical daily activities.”
The series of Barometer polls have shown that Americans and businesses remain skittish about a full reopening of the economy. The Barometer on Thursday showed a 32% confidence in returning to normal.
“Over the past five months, our research has continued to show that Americans have little confidence that others around them are doing the right thing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Jon Last, the president of the Sports and Leisure Research Group, one of three groups that produce the Barometer.
“This has resulted in hesitation to re-engage particularly in those activities where one lacks the ability to control for the behavior and proximity of others,” he added.
Still, the latest survey showed that many people are tip-toeing back into normal life despite concerns about the virus, the politics surrounding it and the financial hit they suffered waiting it out.
Said the report:
“Only 18% are refraining from some of their normal activities such as travel, leisure, sports and entertainment because of financial concerns; 10% are refraining from some of their normal activities such as travel, leisure, sports and entertainment because of social unrest; 10% are refraining from some of their normal activities such as travel, leisure, sports and entertainment because of the things they want to do are not available to do and 9% are refraining from some of their normal activities such as travel, leisure, sports and entertainment because of concerns about getting into a political debate.”
The authors suggested that the survey is proof that people knew how to kill the virus but failed to follow the rules to do that.
“Historians will look back on this pandemic and wonder why we Americans knew exactly what to do but failed to do it, and let our economy and health suffer needlessly,” said Rich Thau, president of Engagious, one of the three firms, along with the Sports and Leisure Research Group and ROKK Solutions, that conducted the survey.