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Pew Research CenterOctober 28, 2020
The Challenges of Contact Tracing as U.S. Battles COVID-19

Most Americans don’t pick up phone calls from unknown numbers, and roughly half think scams occur often

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Most Americans don’t pick up phone calls from unknown numbers, and roughly half think scams occur often

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The Challenges of Contact Tracing as U.S. Battles COVID-19
Some say they would be comfortable or likely to engage with key steps of contact tracing programs during COVID-19, but others are wary or resistant
About half of Americans say they would be comfortable or likely to engage with the key steps in contact tracing to control COVID-19
Most Americans don’t pick up phone calls from unknown numbers, and roughly half think scams occur often
About three-in-ten Americans say they would find it at least somewhat difficult to quarantine if told they had the coronavirus; obligations, work cited as major reasons
Roughly half of Republicans are not at all or not too confident public health organizations will keep their records safe, versus about three-in-ten Democrats
Republicans less likely than Democrats to say they would be likely or comfortable to engage with every step of the contact tracing process
Seven-in-ten adults had seen or heard at least some about contact tracing as of July
Majority of Americans say they do not generally answer their cellphone for unknown numbers, but many of them do listen to voicemails
Nine-in-ten U.S. adults think people often or sometimes pretend to be someone else in order to try to steal personal information
About two-thirds of Americans say their personal information has become less secure in last five years
About four-in-ten Americans say they would not be likely to speak with a public health official by phone or text message about the coronavirus outbreak
A portion of adults say they would be uncomfortable sharing names of contacts or places they have recently visited with a public health official
73% of Americans say they would definitely act on advice from a public health official to quarantine if they had COVID-19
Some of those who would not likely quarantine say they just don’t think it’s necessary
About three-in-ten Americans say it would be very or somewhat difficult to quarantine if they had COVID-19
48% of Americans say they’d be comfortable or likely to engage with all three key contact tracing steps
Several factors tie to whether people say they would be comfortable or likely to engage with the entire contact tracing process
Half of Americans are not confident in the federal government to protect their records, and 41% say the same about public health organizations
Confidence in public health organizations to keep records safe is related to comfortable or likely engagement with the full contact tracing process
Three-quarters of Americans think it is acceptable for personal information to be made available to infectious disease researchers
Republicans more likely than Democrats to think it is unacceptable for other organizations or individuals to use information collected by public health officials

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About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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