As Massachusetts gradually reopens during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, residents are willing to resume several aspects of ordinary life — but less so in the case of other activities, a new Suffolk University poll for WGBH News, the Boston Globe, MassLive and State House News Service suggests.
Seventy-eight percent of respondents said they would be comfortable seeing relatives in person, now or when it’s allowed. Half said they would be comfortable being back in person in an office or at school. And 41 percent said they would be comfortable eating out.
Residents also seem to be relaxing their social distancing as key coronavirus measures continue to improve in the state. Forty-four percent of respondents described themselves as “very strict” when it comes to social distancing, down from 69 percent in a WGBH News/Boston Globe poll conducted by Suffolk in late April and early May.
“I definitely have lowered what I was doing in March,” Deborah McDonald said of herself and her family. “We were not going anywhere. We were barely getting takeout. We were not seeing anybody.”
The poll respondent who lives in Brockton added: “I’m not ready to go to restaurant, I’m not ready to go to a bar, I’m not ready to ride the train, but I am willing to see family and maybe some friends, keeping my social distance."
Like social distancing, the virus’s impact on personal finances — and related anxieties — appears to be ebbing.
Forty-eight percent of respondents said they were very or somewhat concerned about the personal financial situation or employment, a decline from 56 percent this spring. And 36 percent said the coronavirus situation has diminished their regular income, down from 46 percent.
“I think there’s good news, in that the question of being economically hit has subsided,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center.
Also noteworthy, as an indicator of the public’s readiness to resume normal activities: As the state prepares to expand mail-voting, a strong majority of residents — 61 percent — say they plan to vote in person as usual.
In other areas, though, abiding wariness could complicate the state’s reopening and economic recovery.
Just 23 percent of respondents said they would be comfortable attending a sporting event, now or when it’s allowed. Even fewer — 19 percent — said they would be comfortable riding buses, subways and commuter rail.
There’s more ambivalence when it comes to the question of when and how to reopen the state’s public elementary and high schools.
Respondents were closely divided when asked if the state will be able to reopen schools this fall in a way that keeps most kids and adults safe from the coronavirus, with 44 percent saying yes and 46 percent saying no.
Dori Wade, a Lynn parent, said it's hard to see how schools could be safe without radical changes.
“Obviously, I’m very concerned about education. That is a priority in our house, and to do schooling from home is very disruptive,” said Wade, who has a teenage son. “But I do have concerns about [students’] safety and their exposure as well as their teachers. ...It’s going to be nearly impossible to have any sort of social distancing."
More respondents with school-aged children (48 percent) believe the state could safely reopen schools than respondents without (41 percent).
Similarly, while 40 percent of all respondents said that children returning to school is important enough to risk a small number of people contracting coronavirus as a result, 38 percent said schools should stick with remote learning to avoid any additional risk.
More respondents with school-age kids (40 percent) than without (35 percent) favored remote learning — a reflection, perhaps, of the challenge that remote learning can pose for parents and their children alike.
Gov. Charlie Baker’s handling of the state’s reopening drew high marks, with 74 percent approving and just 20 percent disapproving. His approval for his overall handling of the coronavirus outbreak was higher, at 81 percent versus 14 percent disapproving.
Dorothy Barnes of North Reading said Baker is managing the reopening of Massachusetts “terribly,” mainly because she sees the phased approach as hurtful to businesses.
"When people are so prepared to engage the public, and then to kind of like, play this game of wait, wait, wait," she said. For example, Barnes said she was disappointed to learn that golf courses were allowed to open up before driving ranges.
Among groups with higher-than-average disapproval of Baker’s approach were: Asians (32 percent), Republicans (33 percent), and strong opponents of Black Lives Matter (62 percent).
The poll of 500 Massachusetts residents was conducted from June 18 to June 21 and has a margin of error of plus/minus 4.4 percent. The margin is higher for subsamples like parents.
Reporter Saraya Wintersmith contributed to this article.
