Survey Shows 82 Percent of Oregonians Support Stay-At-Home Orders

DHM Research

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Oregon's response to COVID-19 has broad bipartisan support among Oregonians, according to the results of a statewide survey released Wednesday.

The survey, conducted by local polling firm DHM Research, polled around 900 Oregon adults between April 17 and April 21 on questions related to job insecurity, public health concerns, Gov. Kate Brown's response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and her plan to reopen the economy.

Researchers found that 82 percent of Oregonians support Brown's current stay-at-home order. "Support is wide and deep," reads the report detailing the survey's results. "It cuts across geography, political party, and among those most financially harmed by the lockdowns."

There is a slight divide between parties. Brown's order is supported by 95 percent of Democrats and 72 percent of Republicans. Regardless, the notion that a majority of Republicans support Brown's stay-at-home rules goes against the message being shared by far-right conservatives who've planned protests against the decision. It also butts heads with a resolution passed by Multnomah County Republicans Monday, which suggested Brown's order was akin to tyranny.

The survey also found that 83 percent of Oregonians who've either lost income or their job due to COVID-19 support the stay-at-home order.

DHM Research

The data shines a light on the number of people facing financial losses in Oregon. DHM found that 40 percent of Oregonians have at least one person in their household who's lost a job or taken a pay cut due to the coronavirus. Fifty-six percent of all Oregonians survey said that they are "very" or "somewhat" worried about their personal finances. In a March survey conducted by DHM, that number was at 63 percent.

Researchers also asked Oregonians what goals need to be met before the state should allow businesses and schools to reopen. Seventy-four percent of Oregonians said that the state must have widespread COVID-19 testing in place and see the number of positive COVID-19 cases decline over 14 consecutive days before this happens. Republicans are more interested than Democrats in expanding the testing availability, and less interested in seeing a drop in cases, however.

DHM Research

Sixty-four percent said the state should reopen when Oregon hospitals have adequate supplies, space, and staff to treat patients for all medical needs—not just COVID-19.

These priorities are in line with guidance from both the White House and Brown's office.

Just 33 percent of Oregonians support reopening businesses and school on June 1, 2020, "no matter what."

Oregonians are slightly less worried about COVID-19 than they were a month ago. In March, 60 percent of Oregonians were afraid that someone in their household would be sickened by COVID-19. That number is now at 55 percent.