As evidenced in the mix of sources Americans rely on for news, the coronavirus outbreak is touching people’s lives both nationally and closer to home.
A majority of U.S. adults (61%) say they are giving about equal attention to both national and state and local coronavirus news. About a quarter (23%) are paying closer attention to state and local elements of the outbreak, while 15% are most engaged in national-level news.
Within the news coverage, many Americans are closely following a wide range of topics, again with both national and local orientations.
Among six national-level storylines asked about, roughly four-in-ten or more U.S. adults are very closely following the economic impact (46%), advice from national health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (40%), the health impact on people like them (40%) and the tally of cases and deaths (38%). About a third are following the actions and statements of the federal government very closely (34%) and the ability of hospitals across the country to treat patients (33%).
Americans are following each of seven local and state coronavirus topics asked about quite closely as well, though at percentages a bit lower than for the national storylines.
The two local storylines followed very closely by the largest segments of U.S. adults are actions by state and local governments (42%) and the availability of food and other essentials in local stores (38%). About three-in-ten are very closely following the status of local schools (30%), businesses (29%) and hospitals (28%) and the availability of COVID-19 tests (29%). The availability of unemployment benefits and other aid is being very closely followed by a quarter of Americans.
