Many Voters Think It’s ‘Too Early’ To Lift Covid Mandates, Poll Finds—As Democratic Leaders Do It Anyway

Topline

As states and cities across the country lift mask mandates and proof of vaccination requirements amid a decline in new Covid-19 cases, aPolitico/Morning Consult poll suggests many voters aren’t ready to get rid of the measures yet—and Democratic politicians’ constituents are among the most opposed to doing so.

Key Facts

A 43% plurality believe it’s “too early” for states to end mask mandates, according to the poll, which was conducted February 12-13 among 2,002 registered voters.

A 49% plurality separately say they want local governments to “encourage” both Covid-19 vaccinations and mask wearing in indoor spaces—while only 25% don’t want the government to do so for either—though Politico notes that’s seven percentage points lower than in September.

Majorities of respondents said they support local governments requiring masks and Covid-19 vaccinations for employees at their workplaces, as well as for people to enter indoor restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues.

Democrats are most opposed to states lifting mask mandates—even as many of their governors do so—with 65% saying it’s too soon to lift the restrictions, versus 42% of Independents and 20% of Republicans.

As more cities drop proof of vaccination requirements, most urban voters disagree: A combined 67% want local governments to encourage indoor vaccination requirements (either with or without masks), and a 59% majority support showing proof of vaccination to dine indoors and go to gyms and entertainment venues.

A plurality of urban, suburban and rural voters responded it’s too soon to drop mask mandates—48%, 45% and 34%, respectively—and voters in all areas were more supportive of local governments encouraging masks and vaccines than they were of there being zero measures in place.

Surprising Fact

Republicans are unsurprisingly the demographic least in favor of keeping Covid-19 measures, with only 24% wanting local governments to encourage both mask-wearing and vaccination. That said, a narrow 54% majority want governments to encourage either one or both. The only demographic in which a majority don’t want any kind of Covid-19 measures to be encouraged are those who say they “strongly disapprove” of President Joe Biden’s job performance.

Tangent

A 53% majority of voters also said they’re in favor of Covid-19 vaccinations being required for all Americans, except for those with medical exemptions. That support was driven primarily by Democrats, with 78% in favor of a nationwide vaccine mandate versus 52% of Independents and 29% of Republicans. 

Key Background

A number of Democratic-led states have lifted or announced plans to lift statewide mask orders, school mask mandates or both in recent days, including California, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Oregon, Delaware and Rhode Island, with Michigan becoming the latest to do so Wednesday. A growing number of cities have also dropped or intend to drop their proof of vaccination requirements to enter indoor businesses, including Washington, D.C., Denver, Minneapolis and Boston. It comes as Covid-19 cases have fallen following a nationwide surge linked to the omicron coronavirus variant, and as a number of state leaders now call for learning to “live with the virus” rather than letting it disrupt people’s lives. (Public health experts have criticized the idea of already treating Covid-19 as “endemic,” saying it’s too soon.) President Joe Biden has said getting rid of mask mandates is still “premature,” and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has stood by the agency’s recommendations that people mask up while Covid-19 transmission remains high. NBC News reported Tuesday the CDC may soon change its mask guidance, however, potentially by basing the decision on whether masks are necessary in a certain area on hospitalization metrics rather than cases.

Further Reading

CDC Director Still Recommends Wearing Masks Indoors—These States Are Dropping Their Mandates Anyway (Forbes)

Boston, Denver Among Cities Ditching Proof Of Vaccination Requirements As Covid Cases Fall (Forbes)

D.C. Will No Longer Require Proof Of Vaccine To Enter Businesses — Latest City To Drop Rules Slammed By GOP (Forbes)

CDC Reportedly Plans To Ease Masking Guidelines As States Lift Mandates (Forbes)

Mask Mandates Are Being Lifted As Covid Cases Decline—But Americans Split On Whether It’s A Wise Move, Poll Finds (Forbes)

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