There is a limited understanding of how people in different sociocultural contexts fare during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they view their societies’ responses. This study compares COVID-19 perceived threat, governmental response, impacts, and experiences in the United States and Poland. An online survey was conducted in June and July, 2020 using published COVID-19 instruments. The sample consisted of 538 participants (54% US-based). The study found COVID-19 perceived threat and impacts (e.g., logistical, psychological) to be generally lower in Poland than in the United States. However, views on government responses (e.g., lock-downs) were largely similar. Conservatives and moderates perceived COVID-19 threat as lower than liberals, but trust in science explained the effect for moderates. Also, women had a greater fear of coronavirus than men. These and other findings confirm and extend prior knowledge. The discussion focuses on the role of ideological divide that shape COVID-19 attitudes/experiences in these two countries.
