MA Patch Coronavirus Survey: Baker Lauded, Trump Condemned

BOSTON — A solid majority of Massachusetts residents disapprove of the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, and an even greater majority disapprove of President Donald Trump's performance during the crisis, according to an informal reader survey Patch conducted Friday.

About 59 percent of the survey's more than 6,400 respondents said they are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the federal response, compared with 31 percent who say they are either satisfied or very satisfied.

Almost 69 percent of respondents said they are either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the president's performance, compared with 26 percent saying they are satisfied or very satisfied. Among those expressing the strongest views, those describing themselves as very dissatisfied outnumbered the very satisfied by a 4-1 ratio.

Respondents thought better of the state government's response to the crisis, with 86 percent expressing positive views about its performance. Eighty-seven percent expressed positive views about Gov. Charlie Baker's performance, and his share of "very satisfied" answers was even greater than that of the state government as a whole.

The survey, which appeared in questionnaire form earlier Friday on Patch, is meant not to be a scientific poll but only to give a broad idea of public sentiment.

The Patch survey included questions about how Massachusetts residents have fared in the economic downturn resulting from the pandemic, and for many the picture is grim.

About 13 percent of respondents said they had been laid off, furloughed or dismissed as a result of the pandemic, and another 15 percent said they had lost significant working hours. Twenty-nine percent said a family member had lost a job, and 23 percent said a family member had lost significant working hours.

Finally, the survey asked how well respondents are complying with stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines.

Some 83 percent of respondents say they almost always comply with the stay-at-home order, and 92 percent said they almost always practice social distancing when they must leave their homes.

But respondents don't think their neighbors are doing nearly so well at following the rules. Only 26 percent said others in the community almost always comply, while 41 percent said those others often do and 29 percent said only sometimes.

Results for each of the survey's nine questions appear below.

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