Share of daily activities modified due to the fear of coronavirus in the UK 2020

Published by
Juliette Gagliardi,
Nov 30, 2023
According to a survey carried out in March 2020, it was found that 57 percent of British people were washing their hands more frequently due to fear of getting infected with coronavirus (COVID-19), while a further 40 percent were reading the news more often to keep up-to date with the situation. However, 25 percent of British people have not made any changes in their daily routine activities to avoid their exposure to coronavirus.

For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

Which of the following changes, if any, have you made as a result of coronavirus/COVID-19?

CharacteristicShare of responses
Washing my hands more frequently 57%
Read the news more often to keep up-to date 40%
Trying not to touch my face 31%
Avoided/reduced going to busy public places 29%
Not directly touching public surfaces 24%
I’m no longer considering booking trips to other countries 18%
Checked social media more often to keep up-to date 17%
Washing my towels more frequently 13%
Changed my daily routines to avoid crowds / rush hour 11%
Avoided/reduced eating out at restaurants 11%
Avoided/reduced travel to other destinations in my own country 10%
I’ve cancelled trips to other countries that I’ve already booked 7%
Working from home more often 5%
Showing entries 1 to 13 (17 entries in total)
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of responses57%57%40%40%31%31%29%29%24%24%18%18%17%17%13%13%11%11%11%11%10%10%7%7%5%5%4%4%3%3%2%2%25%25%Washing my hands more frequentlyRead the news more often to keep up-to dateTrying not to touch my faceAvoided/reduced going to busy public placesNot directly touching public surfacesI’m no longer considering booking trips to other countriesChecked social media more often to keep up-to dateWashing my towels more frequentlyChanged my daily routines to avoid crowds / rush hourAvoided/reduced eating out at restaurantsAvoided/reduced travel to other destinations in my own countryI’ve cancelled trips to other countries that I’ve already bookedWorking from home more oftenChanged the way I commute to workStarted wearing a face maskOtherI've not made any changes as a result of COVID-19
0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%

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Source

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Release date

March 2020

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

March 5 to March 12 2020

Number of respondents

2,229 respondents

Age group

16-64 years

Method of interview

Online survey

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