Strict adherence to Government coronavirus lockdown guidelines and overall confidence in government are at all-time lows, new data suggests.
According to University College London’s (UCL) Covid-19 social study of more than 90,000 adults during the outbreak, “complete” compliance of Government recommendations has decreased in the past two weeks.
It declined from an average of 70 per cent of people who were completely adhering to just over 50 per cent.
Respondents were also asked how much confidence they had in the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 epidemic from one (not at all) to seven (lots).
Researchers found there has been a further decrease in confidence in the Government in England over the bank holiday weekend – from around 4 to around 3.5.
Bank holiday weekend
Confidence is falling most notably amongst those under 30, those in urban areas and those with a mental health diagnosis.
Confidence in Government is lower in England than in Scotland and Wales, where lockdown easing has not yet taken place.
Other findings from May 18-25 reveal that keyworkers in health and social care show similar experiences to people in lockdown at home, but are less worried about unemployment.
Anxiety
The study also looked at how anxious people are about the virus, finding that 29 per cent are experiencing at least some physiological anxiety symptoms – including feeling sick or dizzy – when they think about it.
Lead author, Dr Daisy Fancourt, UCL Epidemiology & Health Care, said: “Compliance with Government advice continues to fall, but still remains relatively high amongst most groups.
“Confidence in Government also continues to fall in England since the easing of lockdown was announced, dropping most noticeably over the bank holiday weekend.”
Advice and overall wellbeing
Cheryl Lloyd, education programme head at the Nuffield Foundation, said: “With compliance levels falling, it is increasingly important to know which specific lockdown measures adults are breaking, and to consider what this can tell us about how public health messages can be communicated more effectively.”
The ongoing study, which was launched in the week before lockdown, is funded by the Nuffield Foundation with additional support from Wellcome and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
It is the UK’s largest study into how adults are feeling about the lockdown, Government advice and overall wellbeing and mental health.
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