73 Of Americans Say Negative Covid Test Should Be Required Before Returning To School Or Work

According to the poll, conducted by Morning Consult, 73 percent of Americans say COVID-19 testing should be required for adults returning to work or students returning to school. Only 16 percent opposed mandated testing for students and 17 percent for employees.

The poll surveyed 2,200 U.S. adults from August 9 to August 11 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Among different political parties, the poll found Democrats being more likely to say the tests should be required when compared to Republicans.

According to the poll, 84 percent of Democrats said a COVID-19 test should be required for both students and employees before returning to school or work. In comparison, among Republicans, 65 percent said a test should be required for employees and 66 percent said the same for students.

For independents, 67 percent said the tests should be required for employees and 68 percent said the same for students.

The poll also found that 53 of respondents believe that a COVID-19 vaccine should be required to return to school or work, if approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Twenty-eight percent said it shouldn’t be required for employees and 27 percent said the same for students.

Across political party affiliations, the poll found Democrats being more likely to support a mandatory vaccine than Republicans. Sixty-three percent of Democrats said one should be required for both students and employees, while 48 percent and 47 percent of Republicans agreed for students and employees, respectively.

The poll’s findings come as schools across the country wrestle with the decision to reopen schools amid the ongoing pandemic.

A similar survey, conducted by researchers at Harvard University, Northeastern University, Northwestern University and Rutgers University, found 66 percent of Americans saying that would be somewhat or extremely likely to vaccinate themselves. This poll surveyed 19,058 U.S. adults from July 10 to July 26.

This poll found similar results when looking at political parties, as it showed Republicans being the least likely to seek a vaccine, as 62 percent said they were likely. In comparison, 76 percent of Democrats said the same.

Newsweek reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.