Durham Reporter

An early May survey found that North Carlina residents continue to be split about the risk of COVID-19 when it comes to the impact on behavior, according to Duke University. 

The study between May 9-11 is the latest snapshot of the state and COVID-19, which asked 1,684 state residents about social distancing practices and attitudes during that time, Duke Today reported. The university has been surveying residents a few days per week for six weeks. 

This latest snapshot found that 43% of respondents believed the majority of residents were acting as they should in response to the coronavirus, however, it was a decline since the last study, Duke Today reported. The first four weeks of the survey, however, showed that 52-57% of North Carolina residents felt this way.

The change, assistant research professor at SSRI Nick Eubanks, said it reflects a polarization among residents their views about COVID-19. 

"We see increased polarization around how respondents view the risks of the coronavirus," Eubanks said, who worked on the study, Duke Today reported. "This is a result of increases in both the share of respondents who think most North Carolinians are underestimating the risk and the share of respondents who think most North Carolinians are overreacting."

However, Eubanks told Duke Today that respondents continue to practice social distancing, which the survey found remained at about 95%.