COLONIE — The vast majority of New York voters, 87 percent, say COVID-19 has either somewhat or very significantly impacted their daily lives, according to a poll released Monday, April 6 by the Siena College Research Institute.
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“The coronavirus crisis has turned life upside down for nearly all New Yorkers. Ninety-five percent are either quaranting or cutting back on going out, not being around others and practicing social distancing,” according to SCRI Director, Don Levy. “Almost as many, 82 percent, are worried about their health.”
Fourteen percent of New Yorkers say that they are under mandatory quarantine, 42 percent are self-quarantining, 39 percent are practicing social distancing while only 4 percent are going about life as usual, according to the poll.
“And as the crisis continues, the emotional toll is starting to mount. Two-thirds of New Yorkers say that their anxiety level is up, 66 percent say they feel powerless and wish there was something more they could do and 62 percent say that ‘it’s starting to feel like this will never end,” Levy said.
More than half, 53 percent, of all New Yorkers, and more than 60 percent of younger residents say that “not being with other people is making them lonely” and 60 percent of all residents say “if it wasn’t for the ability to see and talk to others via the internet, they think they’d be going crazy,” Levy said.
Seventy-seven percent are either somewhat (32 percent) or very concerned (45 percent) that the coronavirus and its impacts will cause them serious financial problems.
Just over half of New Yorkers, 51 percent, are concerned with being able to meet their monthly financial obligations and 37 percent of all New Yorkers, 46 percent of those 18-34 years of age and 48 percent of those 35-49 years of age, are concerned with being laid off, according to the poll.
Nearly 60 percent are concerned with their retirement savings or investments losing value, 49 percent are concerned about having to financially help other family members and 41 percent of all New Yorkers, and over half of young people and those making under $50,000 a year, are concerned with being able to afford food.
On the plus side, 76 percent of all New Yorkers say that they feel like they are enjoying the small things even more now and 75 percent say that they are appreciating the extra time that they are having with those that are close to them.
“Despite being forced to change the way we live, being worried about our health and the health of everyone we care about, concerned about our financial well-being, and having to live with the uncertainty as to when this will ever end, an overwhelming number of New Yorkers say that they are getting a chance to appreciate — whether by watching old movies, playing games or just being together. And, with all the things to worry about — health, money, food and bills — most of us say that we feel like we are enjoying the small things even more now than before,” Levy said
