Majority want their states to stay open amid coronavirus surge: poll

A majority of Americans say they want their states to stay open amid the recent surge in coronavirus cases as opposed to locking down, according to a new Harvard CAPS/Harris poll released exclusively to The Hill. 

Fifty-four percent of respondents said they wanted their states to "try to manage while staying open." Forty-six percent said they believed their states should return to lockdown. 

The findings come as cases across the country surge ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. Public health officials are warning that holiday gatherings will likely lead to an even bigger increase in cases, and are urging Americans to stay home. 

More than 12 million Americans have been infected with the virus to date and more than a quarter million have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

A number of states and localities have started taking action in an effort to reduce the spread. California Gov. Gavin NewsomGavin NewsomFBI says California extremist may have targeted Newsom The Hill's Morning Report - Biden argues for legislative patience, urgent action amid crisis Portland mayor pepper-sprays man after confrontation at restaurant MORE (D) announced a one-month statewide curfew last week, while Los Angeles County took the step of suspending outdoor dining for the near future. 

A number of Midwestern states, including Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and Michigan, have mask mandates. Meanwhile, President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenHouse Democrat touts resolution to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress Science denialism in the new administration Jill Biden to offer input on helping reunite separated immigrant families: report MORE is pushing for a national mask mandate, calling it a "patriotic duty." 

"The voters are all for mask mandates but do not want to return to full lockdowns that could overly harm the economy," said Harvard CAPS-Harris polling director Mark PennMark PennPoll: Most Americans want legislation governing social media policies Poll: Majority of voters want Trump barred from running for office again Majority say Biden's top priorities should be coronavirus vaccine rollout, stimulus: poll MORE. "It’s a cautious and fearful public but governors should not see unlimited measures as having public support and should look to put careful logic and reasoning behind what they do to protect the public."

Seventy-seven percent of respondents said they supported a nationwide mask mandate, according to the Harvard CAPS/Harris poll. Another 23 percent said they opposed a mandate. 

The Harvard CAPS-Harris poll of 2,205 registered voters was conducted Nov. 17-19. It is a collaboration of the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University and The Harris Poll.

Full poll results will be posted online later this week. The survey is an online sample drawn from the Harris Panel and weighted to reflect known demographics. As a representative online sample, it does not report a probability confidence interval.