WASHINGTON: The United States surpassed four million infections of the coronavirus on Thursday and at least 143,000 deaths, leading the world and ranking near the top on a per-capita basis.
As the tally of coronavirus infections continues to climb, state and local governments have tried to find a balance between restrictions intended to limit the virus spread and getting workers back on the job after many businesses were closed and millions of people were left jobless.
A new poll found that three out of four Americans favour requiring people to wear face coverings while outside their homes, reflecting fresh alarm over spiking coronavirus cases and a growing embrace of government advice intended to safeguard public health.
A survey from by the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research also found that about two-thirds of Americans disapprove of how President Donald Trump is handling the outbreak.
More than four months have passed since stay-at-home orders first swept across the US. The federal government’s response is seen as falling short, and most Americans favour continued restrictions to stop the virus from spreading even if they affect the economy.
About half of Americans now say they are extremely or very worried about themselves or someone in their families being infected with the virus. About half say they favour requiring people to stay in their homes except for essential trips.
The poll found that only 24 percent of Americans approve of the federal government’s response to the outbreak, with disapproval hitting 55 percent, ticking up 7 percentage points from May. The remainder did not have an opinion either way.
The same day he encouraged people to wear masks in public, Trump was seen speaking to others without wearing one in a public space of his hotel in Washington, DC.
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