ONE IN FIVE NH RESIDENTS BELIEVE THEY LIKELY HAVE OR HAD COVID-19; DEMAND FOR ANTIBODY TESTING HIGH
Prepared by:
| University of New Hampshire | Dartmouth College |
| Sean P. McKinley, M.A. | Judy Rees, B.M., B.Ch., M.P.H., Ph.D. |
| Tracy E. Keirns, Ph.D. | Leila Mott, M.S. |
| Zachary S. Azem, M.A. | Margaret Karagas, Ph.D. |
| Andrew E. Smith, Ph.D. | Brenda Sirovich, M.D., M.S. |
| Anne Hoen, Ph.D. | |
| Janet Peacock, Ph.D. |
DURHAM, NH - One-fifth of New Hampshire residents believe it is very or somewhat likely that they have COVID-19 or had it in the past. Those aged 30 to 44 and those working in high-risk jobs are more likely than others to believe this. A quarter of Granite Staters want to be tested to determine whether they currently have COVID-19, many of whom say they haven't been tested due to a lack serious symptoms, the cost of the tests, or not knowing where to go or how to get a test. While only a quarter would like a test to see if they currently have COVID-19, more than three-quarters want to receive an antibody test to determine if they have had COVID-19 in the past.
These findings are based on the Dartmouth College-UNH Survey Center New Hampshire COVID-19 Study*, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center in collaboration with the Department of Epidemiology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. In the most recent iteration of the survey, eight hundred thirty (830) Granite State Panel members who had completed the baseline survey in early April completed a survey online between May 1 and May 5, 2020. Data were weighted by respondent sex, age, education, and region of the state to targets from the most recent American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as party registration levels provided by the New Hampshire Secretary of State. The Granite State Panel is part of an effort by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center to investigate new ways of gathering and understanding the opinion of New Hampshire residents. Granite State Panel members are recruited from randomly-selected landline and cell phone numbers across New Hampshire and surveys are sent periodically to panel members.
Perceived Previous or Current Contraction of COVID-19
A considerable segment of New Hampshire residents think it likely that they already had or currently have COVID-19: 3% believe this is very likely to be true, 16%, believe this is somewhat likely, 29% believe it is not very likely, 40% believe it is not likely at all, and 12% don't know.
*We ask that this copyrighted information be referred to as The Dartmouth College-UNH Survey Center New Hampshire COVID-19 Study, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center and Dartmouth College.
Respondents aged 30 to 44 are far more likely than others to believe that they currently have or already had COVID-19 while women are slightly more likely than men to believe this to be true. Those employed in a healthcare setting or as a frontline worker in frequent contact with others, and particularly those who have worked as a first responders are more likely than others to believe it is very or somewhat likely they have or already had COVID-19. Those who have left the state in the past month are somewhat more likely than those who have not to believe it is very or somewhat likely they have or already had COVID-19. Those who have experienced symptoms of some kind in the month and particularly those who have experienced symptoms in the past week are more likely than others to believe they have or already had COVID-19.
Demand for Current COVID-19 Infection Testing
Nearly a quarter of Granite Staters (24%) would like to be tested to determine whether they currently have COVID-19, 50% do not want to be tested, and 26% don't know if they would like to be tested.
Want to be Tested for COVID-19 Infection - May 2020
More than two-thirds (68%) of those who think it is very likely that they have or had COVID-19 would like to be tested for current infection compared to only 10% of those who think it is not at all likely. Those aged 30 to 44 and 60 and older are more likely to want a test and demand is also high among frontline workers in frequent contact with others. More than half of those who have experienced symptoms in the past week and 41% of those who have experienced symptoms in the past month would like to be tested.
Want to be Tested for COVID-19 Infection - By Demographics - May 2020
Reasons for Not Being Tested
Among those who would like to get tested but have not yet, just over half (52%) say they have not been tested because they don't have serious enough symptoms while more than a quarter say they haven't been tested because of the cost of testing or lack of insurance (29%) or because they don't know where to go or how to get a test (29%). Twenty percent have not been tested because testing is not easily available in their area, 11% say their healthcare provider could not or would not give them a test, 5% cite a lack of transportation, less than 1% are worried about getting sick at the testing site, and 5% cite another reason that they haven't been tested.
Reasons Why Have Not Been Tested (Select all that apply) - May 2020
Demand for COVID-19 Antibody Testing
While only about a quarter (24%) of New Hampshire residents would like a test to determine whether they currently have COVID-19, more than three-quarters (78%) would like an antibody test to determine whether they've already had COVID-19. Ten percent of residents do not want an antibody test while 12% don't know.
Want COVID-19 Antibody Test - May 2020
The vast majority of respondents who think it is very (90%) or somewhat (94%) likely that currently have or had COVID-19, and those who have experienced symptoms in the past week (91%) or the past month (93%) want a COVID-19 antibody test. About two-thirds of those who think it is not at all likely that they have or had COVID-19 (66%) and those who do not want a test to determine if they currently have COVID-19 (65%) would like to receive an antibody test. Registered Democrats are more likely than registered Republicans to want to receive a COVID-19 antibody test.
Want COVID-19 Antibody Test - By Demographics - May 2020
Dartmouth College-UNH Survey Center New Hampshire COVID-19 Study Methodology
These findings are based on the Dartmouth College-UNH Survey Center New Hampshire COVID-19 Study, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center in collaboration with the Department of Epidemiology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. One thousand and twenty-nine (1,029) Granite State Panel members completed an initial survey online between April 3 and April 5, 2020. Data were weighted by respondent sex, age, education, and region of the state to targets from the most recent American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as party registration levels provided by the New Hampshire Secretary of State. The Granite State Panel is part of an effort by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center to investigate new ways of gathering and understanding the opinion of New Hampshire residents.
Granite State Panel members are recruited from randomly-selected landline and cell phone numbers across New Hampshire. Respondents to the Granite State Poll were asked if they wished to participate in further research and asked to provide an email address. Those who agreed and provided an email address were added to the panel. Panel members were also recruited by texting a random sample of cellular telephones in the state and inviting the recipient to take a short survey.
For each survey which they complete, panel members are entered into quarterly drawings to earn rewards, such as gift certificates from statewide and internet companies. Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100%.
For more information about the Dartmouth College-UNH Survey Center New Hampshire COVID-19 study, please visit:
https://cola.unh.edu/unh-survey-center/projects/dartmouthunh-covid-19-survey
For more information about the Granite State Panel, please contact Dr. Andrew Smith at (603) 862-2226 or by email at andrew.smith@unh.edu or visit:
https://cola.unh.edu/unh-survey-center/projects/granite-state-panel
This project is supported by emergency funding from The Hitchcock Foundation, the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation, Dartmouth College COVID-19 "Spark" funding, and in-kind support by UNH Survey Center staff.