Nearly two-thirds of Australians (65%) now say the Australian Government ishandling COVID-19 well, up a large 22% in a week. In addition, now 59% ofAustralians say the ‘worst is yet to come’ over the next month in regards tothe COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic – down a significant 26% in a week accordingto a special Roy Morgan web survey of an Australia-wide cross-section of 987Australians aged 18+ conducted over the weekend of April 4-5, 2020.
While previously 38% of those in New South Wales agreed the AustralianGovernment was handling COVID-19 well this has now increased substantially andnow a majority of 59% (up 21% in a week) say the Government is handlingCOVID-19 well which is similar to clear majorities in other states: Queensland70% (up 28%), Victoria 66% (up 21%), Western Australia 75% (up 22%) and SouthAustralia 58% (up 11%).
Australians were asked a series of six questions to determine their viewsregarding the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world. The first fivequestions were on a five point scale with strongly agree, agree, disagree,strongly disagree and don’t know the available responses.
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Question 1: “I am afraid that either myself or someone in my family may actually catch the Coronavirus?”
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Question 2: “I think the Australian Government is handling the Coronavirus well?”
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Question 3: “I believe the threat from the Coronavirus is exaggerated?”
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Question 4: “I am willing to sacrifice some of my human rights if it helps prevent the spread of the virus?”
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Question 5: “If a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available, I would be willing to be vaccinated?”
The final question was posed as a choice between three outcomes. Peoplesurveyed were asked: “When thinking about the Coronavirus here in Australiawhich of the following do you think is most likely to happen over the nextmonth. Either the ‘Worst is yet to come’, the ‘Situation will remain thesame’ or ‘Things will begin to improve’.”
Australians are now much happier with the Government’s handling of theCoronavirus crisis than a week ago
A much increased 65% of Australians agree that the Australian Government ishandling the Coronavirus well – up a large 22% in a week. Of Australians thatagree the Government is handling the Coronavirus well 21% (up 12%) stronglyagree while a further 44% (up 10%) agree.
In contrast a much reduced 29% (down 20%) of Australians disagree that theAustralian Government is handling the Coronavirus well. Now just 6% (down 10%)strongly disagree the Australian Government is handling Coronavirus well and afurther 23% (down 10%) disagree.
Australians are considerably less negative than a week ago about theCoronavirus over the next month
A reducing majority of 59% of Australians, down 26% on a week ago say that the‘Worst is yet to come’ over the next month when it comes to Coronaviruscompared to a third 33% (up 22%) who say the ‘Situation will remain the same’while 8% (up 4%), say ‘Things will begin to improve’.
Analysis by Gender reveals 65% (down 23%) of Women say that the ‘Worst is yetto come’ over the next month compared to only 53% (down 29%) of men. Incomparison now well over a third of men, 37%, up 25%, say the ‘Situation willremain the same’ over the next month compared to 29% (up 19%) of women.
There are more Australians positive about the next month than a week ago. Now10% (up 4%) of men say ‘Things will begin to improve’ over the next monthcompared to 6% (up 4%) of women.
Now a fifth of Australians agree the threat from Coronavirus isexaggerated
A fifth of Australians now agree that the threat from Coronavirus isexaggerated – up 5% from a week ago compared to 75% (down 6%) that disagree.
Far more men 25% (up 5%) agree the threat from Coronavirus is exaggerated thanwomen 16% (up 6%).
Slightly fewer Australians are now afraid they or someone they know willcatch the virus
Just fewer three-quarters of Australians 73% (down 2%) are afraid that they orsomeone in their family may actually catch the Coronavirus.
A quarter of Australians 25% (down 1%) strongly agree they are afraid they orsomeone in their family may actually catch the Coronavirus and an additional48% (down 1%) agree. In contrast only 4% (up 2%) strongly disagree and afurther 17% (unchanged) disagree.
Four-fifths of Australians would sacrifice their human rights to helpprevent the spread of the virus – unchanged on a week ago
An unchanged 80% of Australians agree they are willing to sacrifice some oftheir human rights if it helps prevent the spread of the Coronavirus comparedto only 14% who disagree.
An increasing 84% (up 3%) of women agree they would willingly sacrifice theirhuman rights if it helps prevent the spread of the Coronavirus compared to 75%(down 4%) of men.
A largely unchanged majority of Australians say they are willing to bevaccinated if a new Coronavirus vaccine became publicly available
A virtually unchanged majority of 87% (up 1%) of Australians say they arewilling to be vaccinated for Coronavirus (COVID-19) if a new vaccine becamepublicly available compared to only 7% (unchanged) who disagree.
Analysis by Gender reveals slightly more men 89% (up 4%) than women 85% (down1%) say they are willing to be vaccinated if a new Coronavirus vaccine becamepublicly available.
Question 2 Chart: Do you think the Australian Government is handling theCoronavirus well – byStates
Source : Roy Morgan web survey of Australians conducted on the weekendsof March 28-29, 2020, n=988 and April 4-5, 2020 in Australia, n=987. Base: Australians aged 18+.
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