Who’s ready to return to theme parks? Anti-maskers, COVID-19 skeptics and Trump voters, poll finds

The Americans most comfortable going to a theme park right now are those unconcerned about COVID-19, people who rarely or never wear masks and Trump voters, according to a new poll.

A new Morning Consult poll found that 65% of people unconcerned about COVID-19, 66% of those who avoid wearing masks and 40% of voters who backed Donald Trump in 2020 feel comfortable going to a theme park.

The poll of 2,200 American adults conducted in late February found that 63% are uncomfortable going to a U.S. theme park compared to 31% who are ready to climb aboard a roller coaster or scream on a thrill ride.

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SEE ALSO: When will Disneyland and other California theme parks reopen?

The partisan divide on mask wearing and public opinions about the dangers of COVID-19 championed by Trump split respondents along political lines when it came to their opinions about theme parks in the pandemic era.

The poll found that 71% of people concerned about COVID-19, 64% of those who always or often wear masks and 72% of voters who backed Joe Biden in 2020 feel uncomfortable going to a theme park.

COVID-19 skeptics (46%), anti-maskers (48%) and Trump supporters (23%) were comfortable going to a theme park in the next two weeks compared to 13% of American adults, according to the poll.

COVID-19 believers (37%), mask adherents (34%) and Biden supporters (40%) were not comfortable going to a theme park for six months or more, the poll found.

SEE ALSO: How will Disney California Adventure change over the next 20 years?

U.S. theme parks have been following the now-familiar “new normal” of COVID-19 health and safety protocols with mandatory masks, temperature screenings, social distancing and enhanced sanitization. Six Flags announced that visitors at its Texas amusement parks will continue to be required to wear masks despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to lift the state’s mask mandate in defiance of federal guidelines.

Morning Consult has been tracking Americans’ opinions about amusement parks since April. American comfort levels about returning to theme parks have been trending upward for the last few months since a low at Christmas.

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