Perceptions and behaviors in response to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) : reports on major survey findings

Abstract

The United States has been affected by an extensive novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak since March 2020. On March 9, 2020 we started an online survey of people’s perceptions and behaviors related to this issue in Missouri and adjacent states (Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, and Arkansas). The survey was ended on June 9, 2020 and in total 7,392 surveys were completed. In order to assess how attitudes and behaviors related to COVID-19 may change over time, two follow-up surveys were conducted with those respondents who indicated interest in the re-surveys and provided an email address. These two working reports summarize major results of the initial survey and three survey waves, including respondents’ perceived severity of the COVID-19 outbreak, sources of information, knowledge about COVID-19, perceptions of COVID-19 risk, satisfaction with management entities, and preventive actions.