Life in the Time of COVID-19: Summer Plans

Schools may be out for summer but, as with much of daily life, summer vacations might look a bit different this year amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. IntelliSurvey’s “Life in the Time of COVID-19” survey fielded on June 5, 2020 asked a nationally representative sample of 1,029 Americans and 959 Britons about their summer plans. In general respondents trended towards staying home, but there are still plenty of people with places to be.

Britons plan to stay home this summer at higher rates than Americans

When asked about their intentions for the upcoming season, respondents from the UK (46%) were 12% more likely to say they will definitely stay home than US respondents (34%). Despite their lower rates when compared to respondents from across the pond, US respondents also trended towards staying at home as opposed to traveling over the summer with 65% stating they will either definitely or probably stay at home.

Americans plan to keep their existing summer plans at higher rates than Britons

Respondents from each country had plans in place previous to the global health crisis at similar rates (US = 59%, UK = 63%). Of these respondents with plans, the proportion of respondents who reported keeping them (i.e., not changing, canceling, or postponing) was higher for Americans (25% – see pie chart) than for Britons (17%). That is, Britons with plans are 11% more likely to modify their plans (86%) compared to their American counterparts (75%).

Most US children will not be attending summer camp this year

Lastly, we asked US respondents with children (n=310), whether summer camp was on the agenda for their children this year. Fifty-two percent of respondents do not have their children participate in this type of summer activity. Of the remaining 48% who typically have their children connected to organized activities, 45% will not have their children participate this year (see pie chart). A lower, but still large, proportion of respondents will have their children attend camp (38%). Finally, 16% of respondents with children who usually attend summer camp are unsure of whether they will go this year (8% of total respondents with children). These trends in camp attendance may hint at the proportion of households who are able to keep their children home during business hours; a consideration that ought to play a role in reopening policies for businesses and schools in the fall.

New to our survey findings? Be sure to check out our earlier posts on the financial impact and perspectives from the UK as they relate to the pandemic. 

Respondents for this survey were collected via Lucid Marketplace.