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Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for December 22, 2021

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By Scott Rasmussen

The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.

December 22, 2021: Twenty-nine percent (29%) of voters now believe that the worst of the pandemic is behind us. That’s down three points from two weeks ago and 14 points from a month ago. That’s just a point above the lowest level of optimism measured since the vaccines became available.[1]

A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 40% now believe the worst of the pandemic is yet to come. That total includes 11% who say it will never end and 11% who say it will last several more years.[1]

Five percent (5%) believe the pandemic is over and 3% believe it was a hoax.[1]

Perceptions about the pandemic have varied over time. When the lockdowns first began, a majority of voters believed the pandemic would end by Memorial Day 2020.[1]

In 2021, optimism rose when the vaccines became available. By May, 56% believed the worst was behind us. However, confidence fell over the summer with the arrival of the Delta variant. By July, 28% still believed the worst had already come and gone. Confidence began to grow again in early October before falling in November.[1]

Voters are clearly frustrated with both the pandemic itself and the government response to it.[1]

  • Among those who believe the worst is yet to come, only half (51%) are worried about ongoing health issues. Thirty-six percent (36%) are worried about more government restrictions and mandates.
  • Looking back, 58% of voters believe that shutting down businesses and locking down society did more harm than good.
  • Forty-eight percent (48%) think scientists would falsify their data to support their personal views of what should be done.
  • Half (49%) believe relaxing vaccine mandates, mask requirements, and social distancing guidelines would be good for the economy.
  • Fifty-nine percent (59%) favor relaxing vaccine mandates to ease supply chain issues. Additionally, 61% favor relaxing vaccine mandates for police officers, fire fighters, and health care workers.
Worst of Pandemic is Behind Us Worst of Pandemic is Still to Come Net
Dec. 14-15 29% 40% -11%
Dec. 1-3 32% 40% -8%
Nov. 22-23 40% 37% +3%
Nov. 15-16 43% 34% +9%
Nov. 8-11 46% 28% +18%
Nov. 4-7 44% 29% +15%
Oct. 28-30 40% 30% +10%
Oct. 11-13 38% 34% +4%
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 28% 42% -14%
Sept. 14-15 28% 45% -17%
Aug. 20-22 25% 48% -23%
Aug. 5-7 29% 43% -14%
July 29-31 28% 45% -17%
July 22-24 34% 38% -4%
July 15-17 37% 33% +4%
May 27-29 56% 20% +36%
May 20-22 52% 21% +31%
Apr. 29-May 1 50% 24% +26%
Apr. 15-17 41% 32% +9%
Mar. 4-6 42% 28% +14%
Feb. 18-20 39% 31% +8%
Jan. 28-30 33% 40% -7%
Dec. 10-12 21% 62% -41%
Nov. 27-28 18% 68% -50%
Nov. 12-14 22% 62% -40%
Oct. 15-17 22% 56% -34%
Oct. 8-10 27% 52% -25%
Oct. 1-3 24% 55% -31%
Sept. 3-5 29% 49% -20%
Aug. 13-15 20% 59% -39%
July 23-25 15% 63% -48%
June 4-6 29% 42% -13%
April 9-11 16% 60% -44%

[1]



Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology.


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