FERNDALE, Wash. — A month ago, about 250 My Ferndale News readers participated in an informal poll regarding impacts from the COVID-19 crisis and behaviors during it.
As a community, have our perspectives on the impacts and behaviors changed since then? Please answer the questions below and let’s see.
CLOSURES
Do you agree with the school building closure order?

Do you agree with closing the US-Canada border except for essential travel?
- Yes
(41%, 280 Votes) - Absolutely do
(40%, 278 Votes) - No
(10%, 66 Votes) - Not sure
(5%, 37 Votes) - Absolutely do not
(4%, 28 Votes)
Total Voters: 689

Do you agree with the order to close all non-essential businesses?

Did you agree with closing state parks and wildlife and water access areas (have begun being reopened)?
- No
(31%, 202 Votes) - Absolutely did not
(23%, 150 Votes) - Yes
(22%, 142 Votes) - Absolutely did
(12%, 79 Votes) - Not sure
(11%, 69 Votes)
Total Voters: 642

Did you agree with closing most construction sites (have begun being reopened)?
- No
(39%, 257 Votes) - Yes
(23%, 156 Votes) - Absolutely did not
(18%, 123 Votes) - Absolutely did
(10%, 68 Votes) - Not sure
(9%, 61 Votes)
Total Voters: 665

ECONOMIC
How have you been financially impacted by the closures (more choices since last poll)?
- Employee: Able to continue working / No change
(41%, 256 Votes) - Fixed income: My retirement portfolio has shrunk
(16%, 99 Votes) - Fixed income: My retirement portfolio has remained the same
(11%, 71 Votes) - Employee: Laid off (unemployed)
(9%, 58 Votes) - Owner: My business has seen a significant drop in revenue
(6%, 36 Votes) - Employee: Furloughed or extended vacation without pay
(4%, 27 Votes) - Employee: Furloughed or extended vacation with pay
(4%, 27 Votes) - Owner: My business had to close temporarily
(4%, 23 Votes) - Owner: My business has seen no change in revenue
(2%, 13 Votes) - Owner: Have closed my business permanently to closure order
(1%, 5 Votes) - Fixed income: My retirement portfolio has grown
(1%, 5 Votes) - Owner: My business has seen a significant growth in revenue
(0%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 621

Are you able to work from home?
- No
(39%, 245 Votes) - Yes
(32%, 200 Votes) - Not employed
(29%, 182 Votes)
Total Voters: 627

Have you taken advantage of any offer(s) for financial relief (e.g. rent, mortgage, utilities)?
- No
(89%, 558 Votes) - Yes
(7%, 45 Votes) - Considering it
(4%, 26 Votes)
Total Voters: 629

Have you reduced your discretionary spending?
- Yes
(53%, 332 Votes) - No
(17%, 109 Votes) - No, trying to spend more to help struggling businesses
(16%, 104 Votes) - Yes, had no choice due to layoff/business closure
(14%, 86 Votes)
Total Voters: 631

SOCIAL
Have you been practicing social distancing (maintaining at least 6' from others in public)?
- All the time
(46%, 295 Votes) - Most of the time
(39%, 248 Votes) - Sometimes
(7%, 47 Votes) - Not as much as others
(5%, 32 Votes) - Not at all
(3%, 21 Votes)
Total Voters: 643

Have you been staying at home except for essential errands/exercise?
- Absolutely
(43%, 276 Votes) - Mostly
(37%, 238 Votes) - Sort of
(9%, 55 Votes) - Not at all
(6%, 38 Votes) - Not as much as most
(5%, 32 Votes)
Total Voters: 639

Do you wear a protective mask while in public?
- All the time
(33%, 207 Votes) - Yes
(28%, 177 Votes) - No
(21%, 132 Votes) - Sometimes
(17%, 105 Votes) - Not as much as others
(1%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 630

Have you or any of your immediate family members been tested positive for COVID-19?
- No
(93%, 587 Votes) - Yes
(7%, 42 Votes)
Total Voters: 629

How would you describe how all these changes have impacted your mental health?
- Negatively
(48%, 302 Votes) - Not at all
(32%, 203 Votes) - Very negatively
(10%, 65 Votes) - Positively
(7%, 47 Votes) - Very positively
(2%, 10 Votes)
Total Voters: 627

Which will have a bigger impact on your life?
- Social-Economic impacts of the responses to the COVID-19 disease
(73%, 449 Votes) - Health impacts of COVID-19 disease
(27%, 169 Votes)
Total Voters: 618

WHAT IS NEXT
When should the stay at home and business closures orders be lifted?
- After the curve has flattened (projected for early June)
(31%, 192 Votes) - Right now. Staying at home and business closures were successful
(25%, 156 Votes) - June 1st (when the current WA order expires)
(19%, 119 Votes) - After an immunization or treatment for the severely ill is available
(11%, 70 Votes) - None of the above
(8%, 48 Votes) - After the 4th of July
(6%, 37 Votes)
Total Voters: 622

If you were told there was no longer any risk of COVID-19 and all related orders were lifted immediately, what would you do?
- Visit friends and family
(47%, 289 Votes) - Nothing different
(17%, 105 Votes) - Go to a restaurant or bar
(17%, 105 Votes) - Go camping, fishing, hunting
(7%, 45 Votes) - Travel somewhere by plane or ship
(7%, 43 Votes) - Call boss to see if/when you could come back to work
(4%, 26 Votes)
Total Voters: 613

BONUS QUESTION
How did you spend your Economic Impact Payment (select all that apply)?
- Put it in savings/emergency fund
(31%, 212 Votes) - Did not receive an Economic Impact Payment
(20%, 136 Votes) - Paid essential expenses
(18%, 123 Votes) - Paid down debt
(9%, 64 Votes) - Other
(7%, 48 Votes) - Spent at local businesses
(7%, 45 Votes) - Made a big purchase that has been put off for a while
(5%, 37 Votes) - Made a big purchase to treat myself or someone else
(3%, 24 Votes) - Put toward retirement
(0%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 602

Come back to this page over the next few days to see how your responses compare with others in the community.