As vaccinations increase and as case and death rates decrease, Americans are feeling much better about where things stand in the COVID-19 pandemic. Many believe the end may be in sight. In the latest Economist/YouGov poll, 44% say the worst of the pandemic is now past, more than twice as many as worry that the worst is yet to come (18%) or that we are currently in the worst phase (16%)…

A plurality of Democrats say the worst is behind us (35%), but this is only half as many as the number of Republicans (62%) who believe this. Black Americans, who have been especially hard hit by the pandemic, are as likely to believe the worst is yet to come (27%) as to say the United States has left the worst behind (27%).