SHERIDAN — A recent survey from the University of Wyoming indicates about one-quarter of state residents believe the worst of the pandemic crisis has passed in the U.S., while nearly half say the worst is yet to come.

The proportion of those who believe the worst is on its way declined from more than two-thirds in early April. The survey included nearly 500 state residents across all Wyoming counties.

A consistent 10% have not altered their daily routines at all since the pandemic struck, compared to more than half who have made significant changes to their lives and about one-third who have made slight changes.

Braver Angels, formerly Better Angels, Wyoming State Coordinator Kris Korfanta said she has felt the weight of physical isolation within her own home. Her daughter continues to attend UW online and Korfanta attends virtual meetings regularly, so they “try not to step on each other’s bandwidth.”

Braver Angels is a nonprofit that works to depolarize American politics through civil conversation across both sides of the aisle.

Korfanta said she is watching her biggest concern unfold right now — fear combined with economic strain reopening a political divide. Energy and passion are natural reactions to stress, but turning those emotions into aggression and blame makes each person into a piece of political ammunition, she said. The repetitive pattern tears down our “social fabric.”

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