Poll finds 52% of Arizona voters sure worst of COVID pandemic is over

PHOENIX – A poll of Arizona voters found that more than half are confident the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is over in the state, but concern persists over virus spread.

OH Predictive Insight’s survey released Monday also showed that 69% of the 690 participants said they had already been vaccinated or were willing to be inoculated.

“The public’s confidence in the vaccine is increasing as more people get shots and the few side effects get reported,” OHPI chief of research Mike Noble told KTAR News 92.3 FM. The poll found 52% of the registered voters were optimistic the pandemic would be more under control in the next month.

It was the first time since the Phoenix research company began polling about the virus last April that positive responses outnumbered negative in confidence levels, Noble said.

“Arizonans understand the end of COVID is near.”

The numbers are a big flip from a January poll, in which only 24% expected improvement and 46% thought the pandemic would get worse in Arizona.

But 6 in 10 overall – 59% – said they were extremely or moderately worried about coronavirus spread.

Respondents were also asked, “Overall, do you believe the coronavirus (COVID-19) issue in the state of Arizona will get better or get worse in the next 30 days?”

Breaking down the poll, Republicans were most optimistic about virus abatement, with 65% of the 243 expecting improvement.

Of the 263 Democrats, 45% believed the same. Independents came in at 43%.

In Maricopa County, 57% of men and 49% of women thought things were getting better with the virus.

The poll was conducted March 8-12 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7%.

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