By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – How stressed out is coronavirus making you? A University of Illinois study is trying to get to the bottom of that.

Political science professor Brian Gaines of the university’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs, author of the “Pandemic Stress Indicators” survey, says while some people are ready to move past staying home, “just as most of Illinois was moving to Phase Three, the conditions on the ground are improving. Fewer cases, more hospital capacity, and a slight ease of restriction. People face the possibility of sliding back to Phase Two.”

And, looking ahead to Phase Four, “Some of the people think for the most part things are looking good; we’ll have some improvements. Some are pretty pessimistic, and some are both, so they probably think Chicago will see some rough times, but most of the state will see improvements and end up in Phase Four with fewer restrictions.”

Gaines says the IGPA study will last as long as the pandemic lasts.

igpa.illinois.edu

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]