Poll: Many in NC still uneasy about going to bars, movie theaters

SurveyUSA polled 900 adults across the state between Oct. 8 and Sunday for the exclusive poll, which also found that people remain evenly divided on the pace of reopening businesses and resuming social activities during the pandemic, but many believe schools are reopening too quickly.

Men and younger people are more comfortable with going to a bar now than women and older adults. Politics and income also were dividing lines, with Republicans twice as likely as Democrats to say they were "very comfortable," and people who described themselves as wealthy or upper middle class more more comfortable about going than self-described working class or middle class residents.

Even going to a sporting event or concert at a stadium or other outdoor venue under the relaxed restrictions makes people uneasy, according to the poll. Thirty-nine percent said they were uncomfortable, while 42 percent said they were very or somewhat comfortable.

As with bars, men, younger adults, Republicans and wealthier people said they were more comfortable going out to see a movie or an outdoor event than women, older adults, Democrats and working class individuals.

"I feel comfortable going to things like work and school when I need to, but I wouldn't go anywhere with like a huge crowd," North Carolina State University student Jaylan Harrington said.

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When asked about the pace of reopening, respondents remain fairly evenly split. Thirty-two percent say the state is moving too quickly, 27 percent too slowly and 33 percent at the right speed. In the previous poll, the numbers were 31 percent too quickly, 29 percent too slowly and 34 percent just right.

Schools reopening is another matter, however, with 43 percent saying the return to classrooms is being rushed. Only 20 percent said the state was moving too slowly to resume in-person instruction, while 24 percent said actions were being taken at the proper pace.

Reopening schools and businesses has been a political hot button in North Carolina and across the country for months, and it even surfaced in a Wednesday night debate between Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest.

"We need to make sure we get through this pandemic and get our children back safely in the classroom," Cooper said.

"This is not that difficult. We can figure out how to keep a school clean," Forest responded. "Our children are not even at serious risk for coronavirus."

The poll reflects that divide, with Republicans about five times as likely as Democrats to say that the process has been too slow in this state and Democrats twice as likely to say it's been too fast.

Wearing masks in public to limit the spread of the virus also has been a lightning rod for political debate. Only 58 percent of Republicans said masks should be required, compared with 93 percent of Democrats. Overall, 73 percent said masks should be required, with 19 percent saying the state should get rid of its mask mandate.

Rural residents, evangelicals, Latinos and those with only a high school education also were less likely to support the mask mandate.

"I believe it's necessary when you're around a large amount of people for safety," said Steve Brown, of Raleigh.

Still, 87 percent of respondents say they personally wear masks in public. That is down slightly from the 90 percent response in the mid-September WRAL News poll but still much higher than the 65 percent response in an April poll – before Cooper issued the mask mandate.

"It's really not that hard to wear the mask," N.C. State student Austin Dunlow said. "It's become politicized to the point where it's not even an argument about keeping people safe anymore."