The vast majority of Massachusetts residents support restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 96 percent supporting school closures, 94 percent approving the halt of restaurant dining-in, 93 percent supporting the shuttering of bars and 92 percent agreeing that nonessential businesses should be closed to the public, according to a Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll of Massachusetts residents taken last week.

While 80 percent of respondents approved of Gov. Charlie Baker’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 response won the approval of 28 percent of residents, while 64 percent disapproved.

In terms of information resources, 83 percent of Bay Staters said state government was providing what they need; 73 percent said local government was providing necessary information; and 53 percent said the federal government met this need.

Personal concerns

Seventy-six percent of residents are very or somewhat worried that they or someone in their family will get coronavirus, and 7 percent said that they believe they have or have had the virus. Of these, 15 percent said they were able to get tested for COVID-19.

Most residents (71 percent) said they have enough food for two to three weeks or more, and 90 percent said they could emotionally endure the current conditions for a few more weeks, months, or indefinitely.

While 94 percent said they were being very or somewhat strict about social distancing, 49 percent said that what they missed most was seeing family members, relatives or friends in person.

Economic impact

As the stock market is experiencing one of its worst drops in history during the coronavirus outbreak, 63 percent of Massachusetts residents are very or somewhat concerned about their financial situation or employment. Thirty-six percent said that the current situation has diminished their regular income. However, when residents were asked whether they were more worried about their physical health or financial well-being, 61 percent chose physical health, compared to 32 percent who were more concerned about financial well-being.

Methodology

The statewide Suffolk University survey was conducted through live interviews of cell phone and land line users. All respondents indicated that they were residents of Massachusetts. The survey of 500 respondents was conducted March 24 – March 27. The margin of error is +/- 4.4 percentage points at a 95 percent level of confidence. Results are posted on the Suffolk University Political Research Center website. For more information, contact David Paleologos at 781-290-9310, [email protected].