Americans Worry Doctor Visits Raise COVID-19 Risk

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More than four in five Americans consider visits to medical facilities risky right now given the potential of being exposed to COVID-19. When asked how they would feel if they needed medical treatment, 42% of U.S. adults interviewed last week said they would be "very concerned" about being exposed to the novel coronavirus at a doctor's office or hospital, and another 41% said they would be "moderately concerned." Just 17% would be "not too concerned" or "not concerned at all."

	U.S. adults
	%
Very concerned	42
Moderately concerned	41
Not too concerned	13
Not concerned at all	4
Gallup Panel, March 28-April 2, 2020

These findings are based on an online, probability-based Gallup Panel survey conducted March 28-April 2.

A separate Gallup question (asked via Gallup Panel March 13-April 2) finds Americans less concerned about their general risk of exposure to COVID-19. Twenty-six percent are "very worried" and another 48% are "somewhat worried" that they or a family member will be exposed.

Adults With Immune Problems, Kidney Disease Most Concerned

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19." These conditions include chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, serious heart conditions, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, severe obesity and various conditions that can cause a person to be immune compromised.

Despite these warnings, the latest Gallup Panel study finds that adults aged 65 and older are not more concerned than younger adults about visiting a medical office, as evidenced by the percentages "very concerned."

	Very concerned	Moderately concerned	Not too concerned	Not concerned at all
	%	%	%	%
U.S. adults	42	41	13	4
18-29	36	48	11	5
30-49	47	39	10	3
50-64	37	42	16	4
65+	42	40	15	3
Gallup Panel, March 28-April 2, 2020

By contrast, there are significant differences by health status. Adults who have ever been diagnosed as immune compromised (56%) or as having kidney disease (56%) express especially high concern about their risk of COVID-19 exposure at medical offices.

Others expressing above-average concern include those with COPD, asthma or heart disease. However, the percentage "very concerned" is not elevated among those with diabetes, with hypertension or who have ever been diagnosed with cancer.

	Very concerned	Moderately concerned	Not too concerned	Not concerned at all
	%	%	%	%
U.S. adults	42	41	13	4
Immune compromised	56	36	7	0
Kidney disease	56	30	12	3
COPD	51	35	8	6
Asthma	49	38	10	3
Heart disease	48	38	10	4
Diabetes	43	37	17	2
Hypertension/High blood pressure	43	40	14	3
Cancer	39	50	9	3
Health conditions question: Have you ever been told by a physician or nurse that you have any of the following? (% Yes)
Gallup Panel, March 28-April 2, 2020

Fear of Medical Office Exposure Varies by Gender, Education, Party ID

Women, adults in their 30s and 40s, and college graduates are more likely than their counterparts to be highly worried about COVID-19 exposure in medical settings. Additionally, as seen with other measures of concern about the novel coronavirus, Democrats (with 51% "very concerned") are more worried than are Republicans (31%), while independents' concern (42%) is about midway between the two major party groups.

	Very concerned	Moderately concerned	Not too concerned	Not concerned at all
	%	%	%	%
U.S. adults	42	41	13	4
Gender
Men	35	43	17	5
Women	49	39	9	2
Education
College graduate	47	42	10	2
Not college graduate	40	41	15	5
Party ID
Democrats	51	40	8	1
Independents	42	39	14	4
Republicans	31	44	18	7
Size of community
City	43	43	11	3
Suburb	47	39	11	4
Small town/Rural	38	42	16	4
Gallup Panel, March 28-April 2, 2020

Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works.