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This winter marks five years since the onset of COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that led to a global pandemic, resulting in over 1.2 million deaths in the United States.
To commemorate this milestone, the Pew Research Center conducted a survey to gauge Americans’ views on current COVID-19 risks and the responses to the pandemic.
Around 21% of respondents still consider COVID-19 a major threat to public health, a striking decrease from 67% in July 2020.
More than half, specifically 56%, of Americans express that COVID-19 is no longer a concern. Interestingly, 39% believe people do not take the ongoing risk seriously enough.
About 40% of Americans view COVID-19 as no worse than a common cold or flu, while 56% contend that it is more severe than these illnesses, according to the survey results.
When it comes to testing for COVID-19, 63% of individuals feel that they should take a test upon feeling unwell. Conversely, a third of respondents express skepticism regarding the necessity of testing.
Looking ahead, just over 60% of respondents are optimistic about the public health system’s ability to handle another health crisis, rating their expectations as “very or somewhat good.”
In terms of preventive measures, 80% of Americans report wearing masks rarely or never while shopping. However, 40% indicated they would wear masks in crowded situations if feeling unwell.
Forty percent of Americans are confident that the U.S. would manage a future health crisis better than it did during COVID-19. In contrast, 16% believe the response would be worse, while 43% think it would remain similar.
Dr. Michael Aziz, a board-certified physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, emphasized the pandemic’s profound effects on mental health.
He noted, “Studies observed a higher prevalence of psychopathological symptoms during the pandemic for individuals with previous mental health issues, indicating they faced an increased burden.