Coronavirus (COVID-19): public attitudes and behaviours - April update

3. Attitudes toward Coronavirus, measures and guidance

To understand attitudes towards Coronavirus and how it is being managed in Scotland, respondents were asked their views on:

• how the pandemic is being handled
• their trust in the Scottish Government to provide information, to decide when is best to lift/re-impose restrictions, and to act in Scotland's best interests
• whether they thought restrictions/guidance were working
• how they felt about the pace of easing of restrictions
• about what respondents' motivations were to stick to the rules and guidance
• and general attitudes toward Coronavirus

Trust in the Scottish Government

Trust in the Scottish Government to act in Scotland's best interests has remained stable throughout January 2022, with 3 in 5 respondents (59%-60%) saying they trust the Scottish Government either 'a great deal' or 'quite a lot' (Figure 14).

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1005-1012)

Attitudes around the handling of the pandemic in Scotland

From September through to January around half of respondents (between 48% to 57%) supported the way the pandemic is being handled in Scotland (Figure 15). The proportion who disagreed has stayed around 27% to 29%, with a slight dip end of November (22%), and also in early October (24%).

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1001-1044)

Over 6 in 10 respondents (61% to 65%) of respondents agreed that they felt clear about what is required of people who live in Scotland as the pandemic continues (Figure 16), with the exception of 14-15 December (when this dropped to 55%). And over 5 in 10 respondents (between 51% to 55%) agreed that the advice from the Scottish Government is clear and helpful (also Figure 16).

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1003-1022)

Around half of respondents (between 45% and 54%) agreed that they trust the Scottish Government to decide when and how it's best to lift and re-impose restrictions, this was highest in mid-December (54%) and lowest at the beginning of September (45%), as pictured in Figure 17.

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1001-1044)

Trust in the Scottish Government to provide information on the Coronavirus (Figure 18) was slightly higher than trust in Scottish Government to decide on lifting or re-imposing restrictions (Figure 17). Between 5 and 6 in 10 respondents (52% to 61%) said they 'completely' or 'mostly' trust the Scottish Government to provide information on Coronavirus, peaking at 30 November to 1 December.

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1001-1044)

Attitudes towards restrictions and guidance

There has been an increase in respondents agreeing that they feel restrictions and rules are working in Scotland, from 30% in 7-8 September to 46% at 30 November-1 December (Figure 19).This is lower than in March 2021, when over 6 in 10 respondents agreed that it feels like the rules and restrictions are working.^[11]

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1001-1044)

Respondents had mixed opinions in terms of whether restrictions are being eased too slow or too fast (Figure 20). Over 4 in 10 respondents (between 42% to 46%) think that the speed that the Scottish Government is easing restrictions is about right, as reported in September and October.

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1005-1044)

Updated restrictions and guidance

Following the increase in spread of Omicron, updated restrictions and guidance for Scotland were introduced from 26-27 December 2021. The new measures included reduced numbers at large events, table service and 1 metre distancing between groups in hospitality, and advice to limit the amount of social contact with other households.

At 4-5 January 2022, just over two thirds (67%) agreed they understood why the changes are necessary, whilst 18% disagreed. Just under three quarters (73%) agreed they were happy to follow the restrictions if it stops the overall situation getting worse, with 13% in disagreement (Figure 21). 61% agreed they were in support of these changes, whilst 23% disagreed.

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: All Scottish Adults (n=1012), 4-5 January 2022

Due to the different rules and guidance in place in different UK nations following the festive period,^[12] respondents were asked whether they thought the rules and restrictions both in Scotland and in England were too strict, too relaxed or about right as at 18-19 January 2022 (Figure 22). Half of respondents (50%) thought the restrictions and rules were about right in Scotland, while only a quarter (24%) said the same of the restrictions and rules in England. Just under a third (29%) thought the rules and restrictions were either 'much' or 'slightly too strict' in Scotland. Meanwhile half of respondents (50%) thought the rules and restrictions in England were either 'slightly' or 'much too relaxed'.

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1005)

Respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement 'Even though restrictions are changing, I don't want to rush into doing things' which was changed to 'Even though there are now fewer restrictions, I'm cautious about doing some of the things I used to do' in late November (Figure 23). Consistently, the majority of respondents (between 66% to 71%) 'strongly' or 'tended to agree' that they were cautious about returning to normal activities.

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1001=1044)

Personal responsibility to follow rules/guidance

Over 7 in 10 respondents (71% to 79%), throughout the period September to January, agree that they have a responsibility to follow the rules and guidance from the Scottish Government to keep others safe (Figure 24).

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1003-1022)

Trust in others

Respondents were also asked about whether they had trust in others to do what is needed to keep the virus at bay (Figure 25). At 5-6 October, 30 November-1 December and 4-5 January around two thirds of respondents (64% to 69%) either strongly or tended to agree that they did not trust others in this regard.

Whilst respondents felt that they were adhering to protective measures well themselves (see Figure 36), they did not have trust in others to do the same.

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: All Scottish Adults (n=1001-1004)

Attitudes around Coronavirus

Around 3 in 5 respondents (60% to 63%) agree that climate change is as serious as Coronavirus (Figure 26).

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1001-1003)

Living with COVID-19

Around three quarters of respondents or more (75%-78%) agreed that we will all need to adapt our way of living to keep ourselves and others safe as we live with COVID-19 (Figure 27). This attitude remained constant throughout the time period September to early December.

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=1001-1044)

Protective measures going forward

Almost 6 in 10 (57%) respondents disagreed with the statement 'I don't understand why we still need rules and guidance in place when the numbers of people in hospital and dying from COVID-19 are much lower now' (Figure 28). A quarter (25%) agreed. 75% accept that some protective measures will still be needed as we continue to live with COVID-19. Just over 7 in 10 respondents (71%) agree they are happy to follow some rules and guidance if they mean they can do the things that matter to them. Just under half of respondents (49%) think we just need broad guidance on what to do going forwards rather than detailed rules and regulations, while 1 in 4 (26%) disagree.

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults, 18-19 January 2022 (n=1005)