Parents of Color More Likely Than White Parents to Worry about the Pandemic’s Effects
Reflecting the disproportionate impact that the pandemic has had on communities of color, the poll finds parents of color are more likely to be worried about each of these concerns than white parents.
For example, about 9 in 10 parents of color are worried that their child (91%) or they or someone else in their family (90%) will get sick with coronavirus if schools reopen. Far fewer white parents say they are worried about their child (55%) or someone in their family (53%) getting sick.
If schools stay closed, parents of color are far more likely than white parents to say they are worried about losing income (65% vs. 41%) and their child not getting needed social services (52% vs. 32%). Many parents of color also are worried about not having the technology for online learning (49%) and their child not having enough to eat at home (44%). Few white parents worry about either situation (17% and 9%, respectively).
Majorities across Parties Want Congress to Prioritize Funding for COVID Testing, Tracing, and PPE
As Congress works on its next coronavirus relief package, news reports suggest the Trump administration is resisting allocating additional federal funds for testing, contact tracing and other preventive service – a position at odds with public opinion.
The poll finds that 72% of the public say increasing federal funding to limit the spread of coronavirus, including testing, contact tracing and personal protective equipment (PPE), should be a top priority for Congress, making it the highest-ranked priority in the poll, and the only one seen as a top priority by a majority of Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
Other high-ranking priorities for Congress include increasing federal funding to state and local governments to help schools reopen (55% say it should be a top priority), increasing government assistance to help Americans who do not get health insurance from their jobs pay for coverage (52%), and providing financial assistance for people who lost their jobs to purchase COBRA insurance through their former employers (49%).
Somewhat fewer cite a second round of stimulus checks to individuals (43%) and extending the increased unemployment benefit of $600 per week (39%) as top priorities for Congress.
Democrats are more likely than Republicans to cite each of the nine actions as top priorities for Congress, while independents tend to fall in between.
Most Americans are Pessimistic about COVID Pandemic and Say Their Mental Health is Suffering
With cases and deaths rising across much of the country, the public is increasingly pessimistic about the pandemic. Most (60%) now say “the worst is yet to come,” three times the share (20%) who say “the worst is behind us.” The share saying the worst is yet to come is up 10 percentage points since May.
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