An ambulance leaves the Isabella Center in New York, Tuesday, May 5, 2020. (Photo: AP)

WASHINGTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A majority of Americans oppose reopening most businesses despite such measures are being taken in a phased manner in more and more states across the country, a new poll released Tuesday showed.

The Washington Post-University of Maryland poll indicated that respondents are most opposed to reopening movie theaters, with 82 of them saying so. Meanwhile, 78 percent said they don't want gyms to reopen, while 74 percent are opposed to the reopening of dine-in restaurants and nail salons.

As for other types of business, 70 percent oppose reopening gun stores, followed by barber shops and hair salons with 69 percent opposition. Sixty-six percent oppose reopening clothing retailers while 59 percent oppose reopening golf courses, the poll showed.

There is a clear partisan difference with regard to support for reopening businesses, according to the poll, which showed majorities of Republicans and independents said they are comfortable going to a grocery store, but a majority of Democrats said they are not.

Only 10 percent of Democrats said they would be comfortable eating out at a restaurant, whereas 22 percent of independents and 36 percent of Republicans said the same.

While Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents oppose reopening all types of businesses, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents ranged from 61 percent in favor of reopening golf courses to 59 percent opposed to reopening dine-in restaurants, the poll showed.

In addition, respondents continued to give President Donald Trump negative marks for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The president's ratings are 44 percent positive and 56 percent negative, with nearly 80 percent Republicans but just about 20 percent Democrats viewing Trump positively as relates to the pandemic.

Americans overwhelmingly think highly of what federal scientists have done to deal with the contagion, with Anthony Fauci earning 74 percent of positive rating and winning widespread bipartisan consent. The nation's top infectious disease expert gained approval from more than two-thirds of Republicans and independents, and nearly 9 in 10 Democrats, the poll showed.

The poll surveyed a random national sample of 1,005 adults by phone from April 28 to May 3. It has a 3.5-point margin of error.