MA Patch Survey: Readers Wary About Resuming Business As Usual

BOSTON — About a third of Massachusetts Patch readers say they would feel safe going to restaurants and using services like nail salons and barbershops, either right now or after the stay-at-home advisory is lifted May 18, according to an informal Patch survey conducted this week.

But another third of respondents are wary of returning to normal life so soon, saying they would rather wait another month or more.

Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this week outlined a four-phase plan to reopen Massachusetts, but he has been mum on specifics. Businesses are tentatively scheduled to start reopening May 18, although it's unknown which industries will be included in each phase of the process.

Survey respondents were skeptical, however, that Massachusetts can avoid a second resurgence of the coronavirus if businesses start reopening that soon.

Nearly 44 percent of the survey's more than 3,700 respondents said they were either somewhat or very unconfident a resurgence can be avoided, compared to 35 percent who were either very or somewhat confident. More than 22 percent of readers said they were unsure.

"Still think it's too early," one reader wrote. "We do not have a vaccine yet and just asking for a resurgence if we open to early."

Many respondents criticized the lack of clarity surrounding the governor's reopening plan. Businesses that will be included in the first phase likely won't know until the reopening advisory board rolls out industry-specific guidelines that same day.

"It's unfair to businesses that will be allowed to open on the 18th to not have any lead time," one reader wrote. "It's disgraceful that he can't give any notice to those owners who have suffered so much financial damage."

About 33 percent of respondents said they would not feel comfortable going to an indoor or outdoor restaurant until at least July 1, even if the restaurant followed proper health and safety guidelines.

Nearly 21 percent said they would go to indoor restaurant right now, and another 4 percent said they do so from May 18 to the end of the month.

Those numbers inched a little higher when it came to outdoor restaurants. More than 29 percent of respondents said they would dine outdoors right now, while more than 5 percent said they would feel comfortable going from May 18 to the end of the month.

More people said they would feel comfortable using personal services like hair and nail salons, a key point often cited in shutdown protests. More than 32 percent of respondents said they would use such services now if they were open, compared to 5 percent who would prefer to wait until May 18. But nearly 34 percent said they would not use those services until July 1 or later.

"Opening May 18th is way too soon. People need to stay sheltered for several more months to be very safe," a reader wrote. "Opening too soon can spur the epidemic. Why take risks? School settings are very closely impacted, as are offices with small cubicles and mass dining areas, stores will be packed, just from lack of not shopping for all these weeks."

The overwhelming majority of readers have declared summer a wash, with more than 73 percent responding they would not send their kids to camp and over 72 percent saying they will not go on a destination vacation.

When it came to warm-weather activities like going to a zoo or outdoor museums, more than 33 percent said they would not go until at least July 1, while nearly 30 percent said they would go right now and close to 6 percent said they would go after May 18.

Most readers felt it was too soon to speculate on whether schools will have in-person classes this fall. Nearly 29 percent were unsure, and the numbers decreased among higher confidence levels. More than 21 percent were somewhat confident and more than 12 percent were very confident, compared to 22 percent who were somewhat unconfident and nearly 17 percent who were very unconfident.