Initial Results from COVID Impact Survey Identify Widespread Impacts on American People, with Clear Economic and Health Effects

Nick Hart, Ph.D., President, Data Foundation

As policymakers grapple with steps to address the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the American people, initial results from the COVID Impact Survey’s initial week of data collection document widespread impacts. 

Initially released on April 30, 2020, the first week of data collected in the COVID Impact Survey suggest the impacts of the pandemic include mental health, employment, and well-being measures. 

Mental Health Impacts

Nationally, 1 in 25 people reported having a family member or close friend die from COVID-19 (4%) in mid-April, though there is also considerable regional variation. In New York, it's almost 1 of every 5 people (17%) while in Missouri, 1 in 50 (2%). Researchers and policymakers need to understand these variations, in order to ensure adequate and appropriate mental health support services are provided. 

Covered widely in media across the country, the sense of hopelessness poses another challenge for mental health providers in coming months. Nationally, 42 percent report feeling hopeless one or more days in the past week. Eight percent indicated a sense of hopelessness across the country for more than 5 days in the week. 

Economic Impacts

While key economic indicators -- such as unemployment insurance claims and the unemployment rate --  suggest the new economic challenges facing the country’s labor force, the COVID Impact Survey identified 21 percent of those not working had been laid off or furloughed due to coronavirus. Perhaps not surprisingly, only 47 percent of respondents in the national sample expected it was extremely or very likely they would be employed in three months. Households also reported challenges identifying cash for emergencies, 17 percent of which would be unable to pay off a $400 unexpected expense. 

Working conditions for those still employed vary greatly, with low-income individuals earning less than $30,000 annually indicating they are less likely to work from home (17%) compared to those earning more than $125,000 per year (52%).

The COVID Impact Survey also reveals challenges in households across the country in ensuring nutritional meals. 28 percent of respondents reported being worried about their food running out before they had money to buy more; the rates were well above that in some states like Louisiana (38%), Texas (35%), and California (33%). 

Nearly as many similarly reported often or sometimes running out of food, with 22 percent of households nationally reporting food insecurity, including 30 percent for individuals ages 18-22. Regionally, high food insecurity levels are also evident in Louisiana (35%), Texas (27%), and California (26%). By demographics, food insecurity also appears to be disproportionately affecting Hispanics (35%), who are 17 percentage points more likely to face food insecurity than whites (18%).

Minimizing COVID Spread

A large share of the American population, 63 percent, faces at least one COVID-19 risk factor identified by the Centers for Disease Control. Fortunately, many seem to be complying with key aspects of CDC’s recommendations for minimizing the spread of COVID-19, including wearing face masks (78%), avoiding crowds (80%), washing hands (92%), and social distancing at 6 feet (85%).

Approximately 70 percent of the American public indicated willingness to accept testing for COVID-19 if offered. However, many Americans suggest they are not likely to use applications to track or monitor symptoms, 50 percent say that they were not likely to use a phone application to track their symptoms, including 56 percent for individuals ages 18-22.

Additional data and results will be available the week of May 11. 

About the COVID Impact Survey

The COVID Impact Survey is an effort to provide national and regional statistics about health, the economy, and social dynamics in the United States. The COVID Impact Survey is unique in that its methodological approach relies on an address-based random sample and also includes a range of questions about physical health, mental health, and economic security on a single survey. The results provide reliable estimates at the national level as well as for 10 states and 8 metropolitan areas, including for California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Oregon, Texas, Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh.