WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans are now as likely to say the coronavirus situation in the U.S. is getting better (41%) as to say it's getting worse (39%). Just 10 days prior, they were far more likely to say it was getting worse.
The latest results are based on April 17-19 Gallup Panel interviewing. After a big decline over the weekend of April 10-12 in the percentage saying the situation was getting worse, opinions moved modestly more in that direction early last week before stabilizing over the weekend.
Widespread stay-at-home orders and social distancing practices have helped to "flatten the curve" of U.S. coronavirus cases. Still, more cases are reported each day. State and federal public health officials and political leaders are now contemplating how to ease those restrictions on daily life without leading to a second surge in COVID-19 cases.
Opinions on the coronavirus situation differ sharply by political party identification, even as all groups have trended toward saying the situation is getting better rather than worse.
Currently, 69% of Republicans say the situation is getting better, while just 13% say it is getting worse.
By contrast, a majority of Democrats, 59%, think the situation is getting worse -- although that is down from 79% earlier this month.
Independents are evenly divided on the coronavirus situation. A little more than a week ago, they were nearly three times more likely to say it was getting worse than getting better.
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