The poll showed that the groups most likely to see Covid-19 at greatest risk were people between 18 and 29 (58%) and Republicans (49%). Meanwhile, 76% of those vaccinated still consider coronavirus to be at high risk.
“Certain groups find that they are invincible and think that they are not going to get as sick as others,” said Dr. Leana Wen, CNN medical analyst, an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at George Washington University, Milken Institute. School of Public Health.
Many Americans are unsure about what activities are safe, the poll also suggested: 28% of respondents say they attend meetings with family or friends; 22% say they will wait for their circle to be vaccinated; 24% said they would wait for officials to say it was safe; and 24% do not know. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said it is safest to get in touch with people you live with, almost exclusively.
Only 10% of Democrats and 15% of people over the age of 65 have attended private meetings, compared to 42% of Republicans. People older than 65 (29%) and those with a university education are more likely to wait for the vaccine (34%).
The findings in the poll come at a time when there is less trust in the media and 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 poll 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 still trust what President Joe Biden says.
Why do some misinterpret pandemic risks?
What the poll “illustrates to me is that for good reason people do not understand where we are in the pandemic,” Wen said.
“People do not understand that the risk is actually greatest for many people with those they love, rather than with strangers ‘because we spend more time with loved ones,'” Wen said. There is some magic thinking when it comes to coronavirus. Due to asymptomatic transmission, we do not know who has the virus and who does not. ”
After plateaus after previous rises in the case, Wen added, matters increased again when people let their hats down. Reading or reading news sources that view the pandemic as a joke can develop inaccurate perceptions, she said.
What everyone is dealing with, no matter what they believe, is pandemic fatigue. “We get tired of making decisions during uncertainty, and some of us will ignore the warnings to regain our routine,” said Jacqueline Gollan, who holds two professors at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine: one in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and one in obstetrics. in gynecology. “We prefer pleasure now and risk pain later.”
How to adequately assess risk
“One of them is the concept of harm reduction, because we understand that everything we do has a risk, but there are things we can do to reduce the risk,” Wen said. ‘Mask, avoid indoor gatherings, keep physical distance – it’s additive. The more of these measures we take, the more we are protected. ‘
Second, she adds, cumulative risk also adds up. “Just because you are engaged in one activity that carries a relatively higher risk does not mean you have to participate in others,” she said.
For example, going back to work should not mean that you are celebrating your birthday. And when your children are back in school, they do not have to attend all extracurricular activities. Base your decisions on what is necessary, safe and valuable for you – in that order.
Instead of meeting with people you do not live with, stick to virtual hangouts if possible. If you enjoy a social life freely, but fortunately are not infected with coronavirus, you should know that times do not mean you will be happy, Wen said.
Be careful when developing an attitude that you do not want to change. “We pay more attention to information that fits the spiritual model, we pay less attention to information that contradicts them, and we distort information to fit it,” Gollan said. “If we think it is unsafe, we will continue to accept that activities are unsafe.”
If you do not know if you can trust a source of information, this is just a good place to start asking the question, Wen said. Local health departments, the CDC, hospitals like Cleveland Clinic or Johns Hopkins Hospital, and reputable newspapers are some credible sources. “Make sure health science supports what you read or hear or believe,” Gollan said, as well as what you want to do.
Remember we are not the worst thing over, Wen said. “If the variants (which are more contagious) are to dominate here, we could have the kind of catastrophes that many countries in Europe and South Africa have experienced.”
Look for inspirational resources to practice your safety habits, such as visualizing rewards for your choices. These benefits can include your health, the health of your family or the well-being of society.
Think of all the things you want to do when the world is safe again. Because the time is coming, Wen said, and it’s worth getting there.