Inweekly has heard from medical professionals concern about low numbers of the African American community in Escambia County taking advantage of the drive-thru and standalone testing sites for the COVID-19 virus. Â We had Political Matrix poll of 617 African American voters in the county last Friday to find out their opinions on the virus, testing and social distancing.
The survey found 73.3% had not been tested for Covid 19 and out of those not tested, only 39.6% would like to be.
Have you been tested for the coronavirus?
| Responses: 617 | Total | % |
| Yes | 165 | 26.7% |
| No | 452 | 73.3% |
If no, would you like to be tested for Covid 19?
| Responses: 452 | Total | % |
| Yes | 179 | 39.6% |
| No | 273 | 60.4% |
Then, we asked those who hadn’t been test why. Â We found 43.8% were either not concerned about COVID-19 (12.4%) or believed they weren’t at risk (31.4%). We found another 45.2% had concerns about the screening process (21.7%) or the testing site (23.5%).
Why have you not been tested yet? Your choices are, I am not concerned, the screening process is difficult or a problem, the location of testing sites and their hours, or do not think I am at risk.
| Responses: 452 | Total | % |
|
I am not concerned
|
56 | 12.4% |
| Screening concerns | 98 | 21.7% |
| Testing site concerns | 106 | 23.5% |
| Don’t think I am risk | 142 | 31.4% |
| Something else | 50 | 11.1% |
We also asked those who hadn’t been tested did they know the locations and hours of the testing sites. Nearly two-thirds did not.
| Responses: 452 | Total | % |
| Yes | 161 | 35.6% |
| No | 291 | 64.4% |
We asked all the respondents if they knew someone who has been infected or hospitalized as the result of COVID-19. One out of five said they did.
| Responses: 617 | Total | % |
| Yes | 133 | 21.5% |
| No | 484 | 78.5% |
The vast majority said they were practicing social distancing.
Are you practicing social distancing as a method of not being infected with Coronavirus Covid 19?
| Responses: 617 | Total | % |
| Yes | 531 | 86.1% |
| No | 86 | 13.9% |
METHODOLOGY:
The persons sampled were African American voters Escambia County District 2 and 3.The voters called had cell phones and landlines and were called using an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system during the hours of 5-8 p.m. on April 17, 2020. The Margin of Error for this study is +/ 2.5% with a confidence level of 95%.