COVID-19 & Its Impact on Everyday Life: March 27-30, 2020
Over the past three weeks, we watched the level of overall concern increase among Americans, to the point last week where nine in ten Americans were concerned with the COVID-19 situation. However we’ve now crossed a threshold where a majority of Americans are now very concerned with coronavirus.
This is resulting in a continued reduction of essential activities such as shopping at grocery or convenience stores, while the reduction in non-essential activities has begun to stabilize.
We also took a look at possible “over-corrections” in behavior this week – the activities Americans “can’t wait to do” once the situation improves. Americans are missing their family & friends and cannot wait to dine out again.
Over the past four weeks, Russell Research has interviewed over 4,000 Americans about their concerns with coronavirus and how it is impacting their everyday and planned behavior. Russell Research’s COVID-19 Monitor will evolve in the coming weeks as the situation changes.
Below are our key findings from March 27 – 30, 2020.
Views of the Current Situation
Concern continues to increase across the country and is near universal. Between March 27-30, more than nine in ten Americans (93%) indicated they are concerned about coronavirus, increasing from 89% one week prior.
For the first time in four weeks, more than one-half of Americans (57%) are now very concerned with the situation.
More Americans view the COVID-19 situation as getting worse. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) believe the current situation is getting worse, compared to 69% last week, and one-third (34%) believe the situation is getting much worse (29% last week).
Impact on Behavior
As concern with COVID-19 increases, Americans continue to try and cut back on activities which are essential to many, resulting in the first decrease in stocking up of items.
- 55% of Americans are less likely to go to a large store (+5 percentage points vs. last week)
- 36% are less likely to go to the convenience store (+5)
- 32% are less likely to go to the grocery store (+6)
- 46% of Americans are more likely to stock up on household items (-3)
Behavior Change
The reduction of non-essential activities has begun to stabilize.
- 75% of Americans are less likely to go to the movies (+2 percentage points vs. last week)
- 75% are less likely to dine out at a sit-down restaurant (+3)
- 75% are less likely to go to a shopping mall (+3)
- 71% are less likely to go on vacation (+1)
- 69% are less likely to fly on an airplane (no change)
- 67% are less likely to dine out at a fast-casual restaurant (+1)
- 67% are less likely to go to the gym (+2)
- 66% are less likely to dine out at a fast food restaurant (+2)
- 66% are less likely to visit a casino (+4)
Anticipated long-term behavior change is starting to plateau as Americans adjust to their new norm.
- 62% are more likely to shop online (no change) and 36% believe they will continue to do so more often once the COVID-19 situation improves (+2)
- 60% are more likely to stream TV shows or movies (+3) and 33% believe they will continue to do so more often (+3)
- 58% are more likely to exercise at home (+3) and 31% believe they will continue to do so more often (+2)
- 46% are more likely to order takeout or delivery (+1) and 18% believe they will continue to do so more often (+1)
- 43% are more likely to be playing video games (+4) and 23% believe they will continue to do so more often (+4)
- 30% are more likely to have groceries delivered (+1) and 12% believe they will continue to do so more often (no change)
Future Activities
Americans miss their family & friends and cannot wait to dine out again once the COVID-19 situation improves.
- 57% can’t wait to visit family and friends
- 55% can’t wait to dine out at a restaurant (any type)
- 41% can’t wait to dine at a casual dining restaurant
- 29% can’t wait to dine at a fast food restaurant
- 29% can’t wait to dine at a fast casual restaurant
- 52% can’t wait to travel, whether locally or long-distance (any type)
- 30% can’t wait to go on weekend/long weekend trips
- 29% can’t wait to take day trips to nearby places
- 29% can’t wait to go on a long vacation
- 31% can’t wait to go to the movies
- 28% can’t wait to go to a shopping mall or outlet center
- 23% can’t wait to go to a coffee shop or café
- 13% can’t wait to go to a casino
