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  • Mar, 2020

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    Truth in statements about Covid-19 spread

    Q. How confident are you that the following statements about Covid-19 are true?

      NET: True NET: Not true Definitely true Probably true Probably not true Definitely not true Unsure
    Even if children and young people tend to be less affected by Covid-19, they can still catch it and pass it on to others 88% 8% 62% 26% 6% 2% 4%
    It’s possible for people to have the virus and be contagious even if they don’t feel sick in any way 88% 8% 61% 26% 6% 3% 4%
    You can still catch Covid-19 even if you have a face mask 82% 12% 50% 32% 9% 3% 6%
    People are buying up and hoarding large amounts of medicines and toilet paper so they can sell them for inflated profits 74% 20% 38% 36% 16% 5% 5%
    Busloads of outsiders have been observed coming to small-town supermarkets and buying up most of their stock in response to the Covid-19 outbreak 73% 17% 39% 33% 13% 4% 10%
    It’s no more dangerous than a typical winter flu 31% 61% 16% 15% 17% 44% 8%
    • More than four in five participants believe the three statements about the spread of Covid-19 to be true.
    NET: True   Gender Age Group
    Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
    Even if children and young people tend to be less affected by Covid-19, they can still catch it and pass it on to others 88% 85% 92% 81% 88% 95%
    You can still catch Covid-19 even if you have a face mask 82% 80% 85% 77% 81% 88%
    Busloads of outsiders have been observed coming to small-town supermarkets and buying up most of their stock in response to the Covid-19 outbreak 73% 70% 75% 65% 70% 81%
    People are buying up and hoarding large amounts of medicines and toilet paper so they can sell them for inflated profits 74% 71% 77% 69% 70% 82%
    It’s no more dangerous than a typical winter flu 31% 34% 28% 38% 30% 26%
    It’s possible for people to have the virus and be contagious even if they don’t feel sick in any way 88% 84% 91% 82% 88% 92%
    Base (n) 1,086 539 547 341 362 383
  • Oct, 2011

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    Circumstances in which Politicians Lie

    Q. In which of the following situations do you think it is acceptable for a politician to lie:

    The most acceptable situation in which respondents condoned lying is ‘where an individual’s safety is concerned’ (43%) and ‘when the information impacts on national security’ (42%). Twenty four (24%) regard it as acceptable to lie ‘when the information impacts on the nation’s economic interests’ and 20% see it as acceptable to lie ‘when new information about a situation comes to hand’.

    The most unacceptable circumstance in which a politician can lie is ‘where a change of position is required for political considerations’ (81% not acceptable).

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