Protests in at least 25 states demanding that governors ease social-distancing restrictions have earned praise from President Donald Trump and coincided with several Republican governors announcing that they will begin to “reopen” their economies in the coming weeks.
But even in some states with high-profile demonstrations, public polling suggests that there is only minority support for easing the restrictions that public-health experts say are crucial to slowing the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Across the nation, 66 percent of Americans are more worried that the government will ease restrictions on public activity too quickly, rather than not quickly enough, according to a Pew study earlier this month. Even among Republicans, a very slight majority — 51 percent compared to 46 percent — worry that state governments will act too quickly to lift restrictions.
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released on April 19 found that nearly six in 10 Americans were more worried that the country would move too fast to lift restrictions. That survey found that 39 percent of Republicans were afraid restrictions would be loosened too quickly, while 48 percent were concerned it would take too long.
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Bugs Marlowe