Survey reveals public concerns as most Covid restrictions are set to be lifted
Just 28% of people in Wales say they are “not at all worried” about the government’s plans to lift most Covid-19 restrictions from this weekend, according to the latest public engagement survey released by Public Health Wales.
First Minister Mark Drakeford is expected to confirm with the lifting of legal limits on the number of people who can meet indoors, including in private homes, while other premises, including nightclubs, could finally get the green light to reopen as Wales move to alert level zero on Saturday.
Mr Drakeford has already confirmed face coverings will remain mandatory on public transport, shops and most indoor public places in Wales, but masks will no longer need to be worn in hospitality settings.
The key findings of the survey are:
- 28% of people said they were ‘not at all worried’ about the plan to end most Coronavirus restrictions on 7 August. 31% were a little worried, 26% moderately worried and 15% very worried.
- 97% of people said they will continue to self-isolate if they have Coronavirus symptoms after restrictions end.
- 73% of people said they will avoid crowded places when Coronavirus restrictions end.
- 63% of people said they will avoid travelling abroad when Coronavirus restrictions end.
- 13% of people said they were very worried about catching Coronavirus; up from 9% in the last survey week.
- 36% of people said their concerns about climate change had increased since early last year (before the pandemic); up from 24% in the last survey week.
Support
The study also confirmed the government continues to have strong support for its handling of the pandemic, with 71% saying they approved or strongly approved of how the pandemic had been dealt with.
The latest Covid-19 public engagement report from PHW covers the period from 19-25th July 2021, when 607 people were surveyed.
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Nothing surprises me any more. There has been so much “scare stuff” floating around in communities and in the media, conflicting feeds from politicians and other authority figures, that having a population dazed and confused by it all is about the result we should expect. Add to that mix the out and out anti vaxxers, Covid deniers and other assorted distractions and the end result is near chaotic. We have not been helped by the mutation stories. Most bugs mutate, it’s part of their own survival and multiplication functions, but listening to talking heads, media in particular you’d think that… Read more »
Alternatively, you could say that 60% of people, namely the majority, are not or only slightly worried…
But that would not suit some agendas.
Cowed into submission by an emotionally incontinent media and an oppressive Labour administration making political points who operate on the “precautionary principle” which is why Wales is the poorest part of the UK. I look forward to the public enquiry.
I’ve been supportive of the Covid restrictions up to this point, and continue to support some staying in place (masks on public transport and in supermarkets) but let’s be honest the 19th July was not the disaster in England that many people were predicting.
Scotland is removing the majority of restrictions as well. I think the time has come for most of the restrictions to go.
Takes 2-3 weeks for impact to show up in data.
19th July was almost 3 weeks ago and it’s still going down.
Masks on transport and in shops but not in “hospitality” makes no sense. All of them mean proximity so all should keep masking. We’re not out of the woods yet. MIxed statements from the health experts mean opening up is unpredictable so masks should stay.
You already don’t need to wear a mask at a table in a pub/restaurant so it probably won’t make a lot of difference. Plus if any hospitality venue wants to keep mask wearing compulsory then it’s perfectly entitled to.
Covid will be happy to take care of relaxed people.