Concern Over COVID-19 Remains High
One-Quarter of Voters Unwilling to Take a Vaccine
PHOENIX (January 28th, 2021)- While Coronavirus cases in Arizona appear to be inching lower, concern over the virus’s spread is not. According to a poll of 1,022 Arizona registered voters conducted by OH Predictive Insights (OHPI) from January 11th to 18th of this year, nearly two-thirds of the state is concerned about the Coronavirus spread – this includes 42 percent of voters who said they were “extremely” concerned.
The survey also found that the partisan nature of the debate surrounding COVID-19 continues to influence how worried voters feel about the disease. While three in five (59%) Democrats reported being extremely concerned about COVID-19’s spread in Arizona, less than one-third (29%) of Republicans said the same. In fact, 15% of GOP voters in the state were not concerned at all about the spread – compared to just 2% of Democrats and 8% of Independents.
While Republicans are less likely to be concerned about the spread of the Coronavirus in general, there was a significant difference in concern among GOP voters – particularly by age. While 33% of Republicans 55 years old or older were extremely concerned over the virus’s spread, only 23% of GOP voters under 55 said the same.
Democrats, on the other hand, were considerably more concerned about the outbreak than the state as a whole. More than 80% of registered Democrats in Arizona said they were extremely or moderately concerned about the spread. There was a regional split among Democrats, though. Nine out of ten Pima County Democrats were at the highest two levels of concern, compared to 83% of Maricopa County Democrats and only 70% of Democrats in Arizona’s 13 more rural counties.
“I have said it before, and I will say it again. This virus does not care about political party, ethnicity, religious affiliation or economic status, but it has been treated as a political football since the beginning,” said Mike Noble, OHPI Chief of Research. “Throughout the pandemic, GOP voters have been consistently less concerned than voters of other parties.”
Concern over the outbreak also indicated a willingness to take a Coronavirus vaccine. Only 18% of voters who said they were extremely or moderately concerned about the virus’s spread would not take a vaccine today. On the other hand, 44% of voters either slightly or not at all concerned would be unwilling to get vaccinated. Although, in positive news for health officials’ attempt to get as much of the population vaccinated as possible, more than one-third (36%) of voters at the lower levels of concern would still take a vaccine today, if they had the opportunity.
“Credit needs to be given to government and health officials who have been encouraging folks to get vaccinated,” said OHPI Data Analyst Jacob Joss. “The tide has shifted dramatically since last summer when most people were hesitant about taking a vaccine.”
When it comes to officials and their actions to combat the pandemic, voters are not particularly enthused with the job Arizona has done compared to other states. Only one-quarter of Arizona voters think that Governor Doug Ducey has dealt with COVID-19 better than governors of other states – 43% believe that other governors have done better. Doug Ducey’s performance isn’t rated particularly highly among voters of his party, either — only 38% of Republicans think he has done better than governors of other states. One-fifth of Independents and 15% of Democrats agree.
However, when voters were asked to compare Governor Ducey’s performance against two other governors who have garnered significant media attention throughout the pandemic, he fares better. Nearly 4 in 10 voters believe that Governor Ducey has done a better job than California Governor Gavin Newsom, including 65% of Republicans, 35% of Independents, and 14% of Democrats.
Opinions were evenly split when comparing the job Governor Ducey has done to that of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Ducey was ranked better by 37% of voters, while Cuomo was ranked better by 38% – a statistically insignificant difference of 1%.
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Methodology: This poll was conducted as an online opt-in panel survey. The survey was completed by OH Predictive Insights from January 11th to January 18th, 2021, from an Arizona Statewide Registered Voter sample. The sample demographics were weighted to accurately reflect gender, region, age, party affiliation, and ethnicity. The sample size was 1,022 completed surveys, with an MoE of ± 3.1%. Numbers may not equal 100% due to rounding.
Toplines and crosstabs can be found here
Media Contacts:
Mike Noble, OH Predictive Insights, m.noble@ohpredictive.com, (480) 313-1837
Haylye Plaster, OH Predictive Insights, h.plaster@ohpredictive.com, (602) 687-3034
About OH Predictive Insights: As a nonpartisan market research, predictive analytics, and public opinion polling firm, Phoenix-based OH Predictive Insights provides accurate polling, focus groups, data analytics, and advanced targeted marketing to political and non-political clients alike. With leading professionals in the advertising, communication, polling, and political arenas, OH Predictive Insights serves political and non-political clients looking to improve their footing with key stakeholders and consumers. For more information, please call 480-313-1837 or submit a request online at OHPredictive.com.