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U.S. NEWS Friday 6 November 2020
Counties with worst virus surges overwhelmingly voted Trump

By CARLA K. JOHNSON, voters described the pan-
HANNAH FINGERHUT and demic as completely or
PIA DESHPANDE mostly under control, and
Associated Press another 47% said it was
U.S. voters went to the polls somewhat under control,
starkly divided on how according to AP Vote-
they see President Donald Cast, a nationwide survey
Trump's response to the of more than 110,000 vot-
coronavirus pandemic, ers conducted for the AP
with a surprising twist: In by NORC at the University
places where the virus is of Chicago. Meanwhile,
most rampant now, Trump 82% of Biden voters said
enjoyed enormous support. the pandemic is not at all
An Associated Press anal- under control. The pan-
ysis reveals that in 376 demic was considered
counties with the highest at least somewhat under
number of new cases per control by slim majorities of
capita, the overwhelming voters in many red states,
majority — 93% of those including Alabama (60%),
counties — went for Trump, Missouri ( 54%), Mississippi
a rate above other less se- (58%), Kentucky (55%), Tex-
verely hit areas. Most were as (55%), Tennessee (56%)
rural areas in the Dakotas, In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, workers count Milwaukee County ballots at Central Count in and South Carolina (56%).
Milwaukee.
Montana, Nebraska, Wis- Associated Press In Wisconsin, where the vi-
consin and Iowa. rus surged just before the
Taking note of the con- reframe their messages who aren't taking the same "I think there's the poten- election, 57% said the pan-
trast, state health officials and aim for a reset on pub- stance" on mask-wearing tial for things to get less demic was not under con-
are pausing for a moment lic sentiment now that the and other control mea- charged and divisive," he trol. In Washington state,
of introspection. Even as election is over. sures, said Dr. Marcus Ples- said, adding that there's a where the virus is more in
they worry about rising "Public health officials need cia of the Association of chance a retooled public control now compared to
numbers of hospitalizations to step back, listen to and State and Territorial Health health message might unify earlier in the year, 55% said
and deaths, they hope to understand the people Officials. Americans around lower- the same. Voters in New
ing case counts so hospitals York and New Hampshire,
Is it safe to stay in hotels during the won't get swamped during where the virus is more con-
trolled now after early surg-
the winter months.
pandemic? The AP's analysis was lim- es, were roughly divided in
ited to counties in which their assessments, similar to
at least 95% of precincts voters nationwide.
had reported results, and Trump voters interviewed
By The Associated Press grouped counties into six by AP reporters said they
Is it safe to stay in hotels categories based on the value individual freedom
during the pandemic? rates of COVID-19 cases and believed the president
In a recent travel update, they'd experienced per was doing as well as any-
the U.S. Centers for Dis- 100,000 residents. one could in response to
ease Control and Preven- Polling, too, shows voters the coronavirus.
tion makes it clear: Stay- who split on Republican Michaela Lane, a 25-year-
ing home is the best way Trump vs. Democrat Joe old Republican, dropped
to protect yourself against Biden differed on whether her ballot off last week at
the coronavirus. the pandemic is under a polling site at an outdoor
If you do travel, the CDC control. mall in Phoenix. She cast
says, sharing a rental
home with people from Associated Press Illustration/Peter Hamlin Thirty-six percent of Trump her vote for Trump.q
your own household is saf-
er than staying with friends scrubbing floors and other hanced cleaning proce-
or family who aren't from surfaces with soap and dures, for example, and
your household or stay- water; washing linens on are encouraging social
ing at a hotel where you high heat; disinfecting distancing in common ar-
would encounter more high-touch items like door eas.
people. The riskiest option, knobs; and ventilating You can also use disinfec-
it says, is a hostel or other rooms. tant wipes to clean the
dorm-like lodging with Rentals might also have surfaces that are most
shared sleeping areas. more access to fresh air touched, like light switch-
Try to find a rental that than hotel rooms, Tuznik es and faucets, Tuznik
guarantees a 72-hour buf- said. But she said there said. And consider omit-
fer between guests, says have been very few re- ting housekeeping servic-
Dr. Natascha Tuznik, an ported coronavirus out- es to ensure fewer people
infectious disease expert breaks connected to ho- enter the room.
at the University of Cali- tels. Outside the room, experts
fornia, Davis. Airbnb will If you stay at a hotel, suggest avoiding com-
require hosts to commit check to see what safe- mon areas and taking the
to enhanced cleaning ty steps it's taking. Many stairs instead of the eleva-
by Nov. 20. That includes hotels have adopted en- tor if you can.q