the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to the latest Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security email a new poll found that nearly 1 in 5 of US workers have either lost their jobs or work reduced hours as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States. The poll—conducted by NPR, PBS News Hour, and Marist Poll—asked respondents a broad scope of questions, including perceptions of the President and state governments and their handling of the coronavirus response and the impact of the pandemic. In total, 18% of respondents have been fired or had their hours reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, this impact was greater in respondents earning less than $50,000 per year (25%) and those living in small cities or suburban areas (23%). The survey was conducted March 13-14, so it does not account for the spate of recent increases in social distancing across the country, including school closures, limiting restaurants to takeout or delivery, or the shelter in place order in the San Francisco Bay area.
