Younger adults less concerned they will get COVID-19 more concerned they might unknowingly spread it % who say they are Will get COVID- 19 fand
Opinions on this question differ by race and ethnicity, partisanship and education. There also are substantial age differences: Adults under age 30 are the only age group in which a majority (58%) says the priority for critical care should be patients with the best chance of recovery. Those ages 30 to 49 are divided, while a majority of those 50 and older (57%) say the priority should be for patients most in need at the moment.
Just over half of Americans reports being at least somewhat concerned that they could be hospitalized due to the coronavirus (55%) and about two-thirds express concern that they might unknowingly spread it to others (66%). But there are stark racial and ethnic, income, age and partisan differences in the shares saying this.
In contrast, younger adults are more concerned than older adults that they might spread the coronavirus to others without knowing they have it – 72% of 18- to 29-year-olds say they are at least somewhat concerned this could happen, including 39% who say they are very concerned. Among those 65 and older, 57% say they are at least somewhat concerned about this, including a quarter who are very concerned.
Younger adults less concerned they will get COVID-19  | more concerned they might unknowingly spread it  | % who say they are  | concerned that they  | Will get COVID- 19 fand  | Might unknowingly spread  | COVID-19 unknowingly to others  | require hospitalization  | Very  | Somewhat  | Very  | Somewhat  | 66  | Total  | 24  | 55  | 33  | White  | 18  | 28  | 51  | 65  | Black  | 31  | 59  | 38  | 64  | Hispanic  | 75  | 43  | 49  | 70  | Ages 18-29  | 18  | 39  | 39  | 72  | 30-49  | 24  | 55  | 36  | 70  | 50- -64  | 27  | 31  | 60  | 65  | 65+  | 25  | 25  | 622  | 57  | Upper income  | 66  | 17  | 51  | 27  | 54  | Middle income  | 21  | 32  | 67  | 58  | 66  | Lower income  | 33  | 38  | 58  | Rep/Lean Rep  | 18  | 47  | 24  | Cons 15  | 42  | 21  | 53  | Mod/Lib  | 24  | 30  | 67  | 55  | 62  | 74  | Dem/Lean Dem  | 29  | 40  | Cons/I Mod  | 73  | 66  | 33  | 41  | 76  | Lib  | 22  | 57  | 38  | Notes: Whites and black include only those who are not His panic; Hispanics are of jany race  | Family incomes ware based on 2018 earnings and adjusted for differences in purchasing  | power by geographic region and for household size  | Source: Survey of U.S. adults cond lucted April 7-12, 2020.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 