With reports recently confirming that COVID-19 likely came from a Chinese lab, most voters say they are not surprised at the news.
Forty-two percent of likely voters rated the job done by U.S. public health officials in dealing with COVID as good or excellent. Thirty-seven percent give U.S. officials a poor rating for their handling of COVID.
Just 20 percent of those polled said they are surprised by the report, which states COVID-19 came from the Wuhan lab. Sixty-seven percent said they already believed the virus came from a lab leak prior to the recent report.
Sixty-five percent of voters said it is likely some U.S. officials were involved in a cover-up of China’s role in the COVID pandemic. That includes 48 percent who said it is very likely. Twenty-eight percent do not think U.S. officials helped cover up China’s role.
Voters were also asked about the effectiveness of masks in slowing the spread of COVID. Earlier this year, analysis by a British scientist found no evidence wearing masks was effective in slowing the spread.
Thirty-five percent of voters said they were surprised by that news, while 49 percent already believed masks were not effective against the virus.
Fifty-four percent of Democrats were surprised at the report regarding the effectiveness of masks, but only 24 percent of Republicans and 26 percent of unaffiliated voters were surprised.
Even a majority of Democrats already believed COVID came from a Chinese lab. Fifty-three percent of Democrats said they already believed the virus came from a Chinese lab. Sixty-six percent of unaffiliated voters and 81 percent of Republicans agree.
Quite possible it originated in a US lab. Chinese scientists stole it. Many were deported for spying in a US lab shortly before Covid showed up. The Chinese lab goofed and let it out. The rest is history. But those really responsible won’t ever be known.