About 1 in 3 Americans see COVID-19 as a large or moderate risk to their health, as summer cases of the virus continue to tick up, according to a new survey.
The Axios/Ipsos American Health Index found 32 percent of Americans believe that COVID-19 is a large or moderate risk to their health, up from the 27 percent who said the same in early June. The survey comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases that shows no immediate signs of slowing down.
The survey found that 21 percent of respondents polled have taken an at-home COVID-19 test in the past week, which is up from the 17 percent who reported doing so in June. While a significant share of respondents said they believe the virus poses a risk to them, only 13 percent said they wear a mask all the time.
More than half of the respondents, 52 percent, said they believe the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Just 35 percent believe the United States is prepared to deal with another pandemic or widespread health crisis.
According to wastewater data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the viral activity level for COVID-19 is “currently very high” as of Aug. 15. The region with the highest viral activity is the West, according to the CDC.
The survey also found that similar shares of Americans also see the flu and other respiratory illnesses as a large or moderate risk to their health, with 33 percent saying so.
The latest survey was conducted among 1,063 adults Aug. 16-19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
