Sixty-six percent reported that they thought that returning to pre-pandemic life was now a moderate or large risk. The survey was conducted from February 5 to 8 and based on a nationally representative sample of 1,030 people aged 18 or over.
The groups least likely to see Covid-19 as a risk are people aged 18 to 29 (58%) and Republicans (49%), the survey showed. Meanwhile, 76% of those who were vaccinated still consider coronavirus a high risk.
“Certain groups are finding that they are invincible and think they will not be as sick as others,” said CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at the Milken Institute at George Washington University School of Public Health.
Many Americans are unsure about what activities are safe, the survey also suggested: 28% of respondents say they are attending meetings with family or friends; 22% say they will expect their circle to be vaccinated; 24% reported that they will wait for the authorities to say it is safe; and 24% do not know. Meeting virtually or just the people you live with is safer, says the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Only 10% of Democrats and 15% of people over 65 have attended personal meetings, compared with 42% of Republicans. People over 65 (29%) and with higher education are more likely to wait for the vaccine (34%).
The research findings come at a time when there is less confidence in the media and sources of information about the pandemic. Confidence in cable news has fallen since April, from 50% to 38%. Online news was trusted by 36% of respondents and network news by 47%.
The survey found that 68% of Americans trust the CDC to provide accurate information about Covid-19, while 51% of Republicans do. Fifty-three percent of Americans continue to trust what President Joe Biden says.
Why some misunderstand pandemic risks
What the research “shows me is that people don’t understand where we are in the pandemic, for good reason,” said Wen.
“People don’t understand that the risk is, in fact, for many people, greater with those they love than with strangers,” since we spend more time with loved ones, “said Wen.” There is a level of magical thinking when it comes to coronavirus. Because of asymptomatic transmission, we don’t know who has the virus and who doesn’t. ”
After a plateau after the increase in previous cases, Wen added, the cases increased again when people let their guard down. Watching or reading news sources that consider the pandemic to be a scam can develop inaccurate perceptions, she said.
What everyone can face, regardless of what they believe, is pandemic fatigue. “We get tired of making decisions during uncertainty and some of us will ignore the warnings to recover our routines,” said Jacqueline Gollan, who has two chairs at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine: one in psychiatry and behavioral sciences and the other in obstetrics in gynecology. “We prefer pleasure now and risk pain later.”
How to properly assess risk
“One is the harm reduction concept, understanding that everything we do has some risk, but there are things we can do to reduce that risk,” said Wen. “Masking, avoiding internal meetings, maintaining physical distance – they are additives. The more of these measures we do, the more we are protected.”
Second, she added, the cumulative risk also increases. “Just because you are engaging in a relatively higher risk activity does not mean that you should be engaging in other activities,” she said.
For example, going back to work does not mean that you also allow yourself to go to birthday parties. And if your kids are back to school, they don’t have to attend all extracurricular activities. Base your decisions on what is essential, safe and valuable to you – in that order.
Instead of meeting people you don’t live with, opt for virtual hangouts if possible. If you have been enjoying a social life freely, but fortunately you have not been infected with the coronavirus, know that these times do not mean that you will continue to be lucky, said Wen.
Be careful when developing a mindset that you are reluctant to change. “We pay more attention to information that fits the mental model, we pay less attention to information that contradicts them, and we distort the information to fit,” said Gollan. “If we think it is not safe, we will continue to try to assume that the activities are not safe.”
If you don’t know if you can trust a source of information, just asking yourself is a good place to start, Wen said. Local health departments, the CDC, hospitals like the Cleveland Clinic or the Johns Hopkins Hospital and estimated news channels are some reliable sources. “Make sure that health science supports what you read, hear or believe,” said Gollan, as well as what you want to do.
Remember, we are just the worst, said Wen. “If variants (which are more contagious) become dominant here, we can face the kind of catastrophe that many countries in Europe and South Africa have experienced.”
Look for sources of inspiration to keep you practicing safety habits, like viewing rewards for your choices. These rewards can include your health, the health of your family or the well-being of society.
Think of everything you want to do when the world is safe again. Because that time is coming, Wen said, and it’s worth waiting to get there.