Back to Normal? Not Really

With Omicron fading in the United States, are Americans back to normal? Not really, according to a KFF survey. Here's how the public responded when asked on March 15-22, "How much have you personally returned to activities that you engaged in before the pandemic?"

14% said they had never changed their activities

27% said they had basically returned to normal

42% said they were doing some but not all their pre-pandemic activities

17% said they were doing very few of their pre-pandemic activities 

So, the 59 percent majority of the public is still holding back—engaging in only some or few of their pre-pandemic activities. Some are holding back more than others...

• Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to be restricting their activities (75 and 62 percent, respectively) than non-Hispanic whites (53 percent). 
• Those with household incomes below $40,000 are more likely to be restricting their activities (65 percent) than those with household incomes of $90,000 or more (54 percent). 
• Democrats are more likely to be restricting their activities (73 percent) than Republicans (45 percent). 
• The vaccinated are more likely (63 percent) to be restricting their activities than the unvaccinated (43 percent).

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, KFF Covid-19 Vaccine Monitor: Views on the Pandemic at Two Years