#Cuomo has governed, handled COVID-19 better than de Blasio: poll

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a better grip on COVID-19 than Mayor Bill de Blasio, according to a new poll of city residents, most of whom fear a return to normalcy in the Big Apple is still at least six months away.

The Spectrum News-IPSOS poll, released Wednesday, found that 73 percent of city residents approve of Cuomo’s handling of the coronavirus. By comparison, de Blasio received 52 percent approval for his work with the pandemic.

The governor, when asked about his high marks concerning the coronavirus on Wednesday, credited “smart” and “tough” New Yorkers with backing his mandates before they were even implemented.

“I think the public supports what I’ve done because the public supported it before I did it,” Cuomo said, citing his decision to require face masks, ban mass gatherings and shutter non-essential businesses during the pandemic.

“They heard the facts and because they’re smart and they’re tough and they’re loving and they’re disciplined,” they supported the measures, Cuomo said.

Despite the government’s handling of the coronavirus, 70 percent of city residents feel it will take at least six months for life in their community to return to normal.

Nearly a quarter of those polled have given up on New York City.

When asked if they see a future for themselves in the Big Apple, 24 percent indicated they did not.

In overall governing, Cuomo also fared much better in the minds of New Yorkers than the mayor. Seventy-one percent approved the governor’s job, while de Blasio attracted the approval of 49 percent.

The poll, which was conducted online, questioned 850 city residents and has a 3.8 percent margin of error.