According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of August 13, 163,651 Americans have died from COVID-19—about .05 percent of the population—but a recent poll shows Americans believe the number is closer to, 2,970,00,000, or nine percent.
The poll, published July 27 by communications firm Kekst CNC looks at a variety of perceptions related to the pandemic around the world. Respondents in the United States were asked to give a percentage of deaths and cases from and of COVID-19. Respondents overestimated the number of COVID deaths by a mean of 22.5 times. Respondents also reported they believe 20 percent of the population has been infected with the virus, yet the CDC reports 5,119,711 confirmed cases, less than 2 percent of the population.
The poll surveyed 1,000 adults in the United States between July 10 and July 15 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percent.
On its website, the Committee to Unleash Prosperity stated on August 12 that the poll is an example of “just how unsuccessful the media has been in putting the coronavirus into perspective.”
-Staff reports