New survey shows many Floridians don’t believe the worst of the pandemic is behind us

The president and the governor almost every day try to put a positive spin on COVID-19. But in a new survey by the University of South Florida, 55% of Floridians don’t buy it and say the worst is not yet behind us.

“I think people think that the worst has passed, but if you keep thinking that I don’t think it has,” said Aaron He of Cape Coral.

In the same survey, 82% said they trust public health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci, but people don’t like the ever-changing advice.

“There are a lot of experts out there. I see a lot of different things, so I think it’s very confusing for everyone because we got told one thing and two weeks later we get told something else,” said Tina Hamm of Cape Coral.

As for a mask mandate and keeping schools closed, a majority would like to see those happen here.

“Some things have been OK, but I think we might’ve jumped to open too soon,” said Norma Marlin of Fort Myers.

“I’m cautious. I wear a mask every time I go in a store or somewhere around people,” said Mike Horsfall of Cape Coral.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on how Southwest Florida is doing during the pandemic, click here to take our survey.