A joint survey led by researchers at LSU and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls shows that most Americans routinely take precautions against COVID, except when they are at home. LSU Sociology professor and co-director of the study Wesley Shrum said a large majority of those surveyed comply with the 32 specific precautions listed to help prevent catching COVID.
“It varies of course, but for the most part there’s a pretty high frequency of compliance over the course of the pandemic,” said Shrum.
The online survey, of more than 10,000, that took place over 13 days in August, indicates that most Americans comply with wearing face masks, social distancing, and handwashing. Of the approximate 250 in the survey that contracted COVID, Shrum said they trace their illness to their own home.
“So of those people, we had a whole series of questions of where you may have gotten it, how you may have gotten it, and the majority of people that know say they got it from someone they live with,” said Shrum.
While Schrum acknowledges the survey findings might be surprising due to media attention on those who protest compliance, but he said another key takeaway is what those surveyed do in public versus private and how it is impacting their ability to catch COVID.
“I think this is the key factor, the precaution that they say is the most difficult and yet at the same time the least necessary to do, is to avoid close contact with people you live with,” said Shrum.
Shrum said despite political differences most Americans are following the recommended precautions, but as far as social distancing in their home it’s extremely difficult to avoid people you live with.
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