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

7. Behaviours as restrictions changed

This section presents information about people's behaviours between September and January. This includes visits to different places and socialising with groups. During this period a COVID-19 certification scheme was launched in Scotland. In December, during the spread of Omicron, further protective measures were put in place. This included asking the public to minimise contacts with other households (3 maximum), not including main Christmas celebrations.

Respondents were asked which places they had visited in the previous week (Figure 46). From 7-8 September to 14-15 December visits across all settings remained fairly stable, although all then saw declines on 4-5 January before rising again on 18-19 January. The proportion who had visited a café/bar/restaurant declined from 43% on 14-15 December to 32%, before rising to 39% on 18-19 January.

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

Large events and large group activities

Between 19-20 October and 14-15 December, the proportions of respondents who had been to any large event outdoors or indoors, or met any large group outdoors, remained low and fairly stable (Figure 47). There was more fluctuation in the proportions who met in any large group indoors. On 2-3 November, 21% reported meeting any large group (eight or more people over 12 years old) indoors in the past seven days.

Source: YouGov Scotland Survey. Base: Adults (n=988-1008)

From 26/27 December, the Scottish Government changed capacity limits and advised the public to reduce contact with other households as far as possible (maximum of three households). Throughout January, consequently, fewer respondents reported attending large events or meeting in large groups, as shown in Figure 48.

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