Are you near two other people right now? Does one of you believe that seeing other people over the holidays is worth the risk of one of you contracting coronavirus?

Cinch Home Services surveyed 1,040 people in November and asked them, “Is gathering socially worth the risk of someone contracting COVID-19?” The majority were not against it with 36% saying it would be worth it and another 21% saying they were not sure.

In fact, 74% of those surveyed said they have skipped a social gathering because restrictions were too strict. Only 12% said they would not attend a social gathering because a mask was required.

“After months of limited contact with loved ones, it’s understandable that some might be eager to see loved ones,” the survey authors wrote. “There have been concerns throughout the pandemic about the effects of isolation and loneliness on specific populations, particularly the elderly.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has given people a lot of things to be concerned about, especially when it comes to socializing. Varying opinions on appropriate precautions to take and anxiety around infection have made gathering together a lot more tense than it used to be. However, a majority of people said they still intended to see loved ones, particularly as the holidays draw near.”

About 60% of survey subjects plan to attend a holiday gathering this year, but not without some angst. Another 60% also said that they have argued with family or friends about social gathering precautions this holiday season.

And this survey was in November. There has been an 18% rise in COVID cases since Thanksgiving. By December, people probably would have argued with the surveyor with pandemic tensions rising.

Add comment