Three-Quarters Of Voters Want Coronavirus Testing Before Returning To School

Americans want testing before they send their kid—or themselves—back to school. A new poll from Morning Consult shows that 74% of registered voters think coronavirus testing should be required before students return to schools or colleges.

The majority of voters think testing should be required to return to the classroom regardless of party affiliation, though there are large differences across parties. Republicans are twenty-two percentage points less likely than Democrats to think testing is needed. Sixty-three percent of Republicans think coronavirus testing should be required before returning to school, compared to 72% of Independents and 85% of Democrats.

Of all voters, 15% don’t think testing should be required while 11% said they don’t know. This also greatly differs across party lines. Six percent of Democrats said no, while 16% of Independents and 23% of Republicans said they didn’t think coronavirus testing should be required before returning to school.

The poll also asked about workers returning to the workplace. Seventy-three percent of voters believe testing is needed for employees to go back to work. The poll was of 1,995 registered voters and had a 2-point margin of error. The survey was in the field from May 19 to May 21.

A Gallup poll had some similar findings generally. It showed that 61% of Americans thought “widespread testing to identify and monitor coronavirus infections” was very important to return to normal activities. Twenty-one percent thought it was somewhat important.

If testing were required before students could return to classrooms this fall, this could have a major impact on schools — particularly colleges and universities. Some are already predicting significant drops in enrollment. If some believe testing should be required, those students could be greatly discouraged from attending.

A poll from Strada Education Network found that 14% of Americans have changed their education plans due to Covid-19. When just focusing on adults 18 to 24, that number increases to 22%. However, it may be too early to know that impact.

It is important to note that many college-bound students have fluid plans at this point. Many students decide to enroll in community colleges at the last minute. And as the coronavirus situation changes over time, so too could their plans.

It is too early to know if widespread testing will be required for students to return to schools and college campuses. Many states and cities will likely have varying requirements. Schools themselves will also likely take different approaches as they try to return this fall. However, it is likely that temperature checks and some form of social distancing will be in place at many schools and colleges and universities.