People sit on the grass as the sun sets on Clapham Common, following the easing of lockdown restrictions, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London, Britain March 29, 2021. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

 

LONDON (Reuters) - People in Britain are much less worried about the coronavirus pandemic than they were just a month ago as the country makes headway with its vaccination programme, an opinion poll showed on Tuesday.

 

The proportion of respondents who cited COVID-19 as a big issue for the country dropped to 49% from 72% in February although it remained the single biggest concern, polling firm Ipsos MORI said.

 

Britain has suffered Europe's biggest COVID-19 death toll but has raced ahead of other European countries with its coronavirus vaccinations this year.

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, along with his counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is gradually easing restrictions.

 

"Concern is notably lower among older age groups, which may suggest the vaccination campaign is having an impact on public perceptions – although worries are also lower among the youngest Britons who will not yet have been vaccinated," said Mike Clemence, associate research director at Ipsos MORI.

 

Brexit also fell down the list of worries and was mentioned as a concern by 26% of respondents, its joint-lowest level since the referendum decision to leave the European Union in 2016.

 

But there were significant increases in concerns about the health service, poverty, education and housing, the poll showed.

 

Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,009 people between March 5 and March 11.

 

(Writing by William Schomberg. Editing by Andrew MacAskill)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-30

 

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2 hours ago, webfact said:

Britain has suffered Europe's biggest COVID-19 death toll

The rate the EU countries are going, I think another 2 months and the UK may well not be, especially if Italy keeps up with its latest daily toll 

No mention of holidays abroad not being allowed then? Makes the Brits actually look quite sensible

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,009 people between March 5 and March 11.

Out of a total population of around 66 million. Yeah.....good sample. ????

i guess the $64 question is where the media will now direct the fear and paranoia built up by Brexit + Covid?

37 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Out of a total population of around 66 million. Yeah.....good sample. ????

 

 

How Can the Opinions of 1,000 People Possibly Represent the Entire Country?

 

Think about a chef who tastes a sauce. If the sauce is well stirred, the chef can try just a spoonful rather than eating the entire potful to assess its flavor.

50 minutes ago, 473geo said:

No mention of holidays abroad not being allowed then? Makes the Brits actually look quite sensible

You might think so.

 

No doubt England has acted on Australias example of how to control the sheeple

and more likely motivated by preventing any stimulus/welfare money leaking out of the country through people travelling.

 

I had really hoped that Brits might have had a few more baแs,  and kicked back against the international travel ban

but It seems not????

9 minutes ago, pookondee said:

You might think so.

 

No doubt England has acted on Australias example of how to control the sheeple

and more likely motivated by preventing any stimulus/welfare money leaking out of the country through people travelling.

 

I had really hoped that Brits might have had a few more baแs,  and kicked back against the international travel ban

but It seems not????

Perhaps they are happy to wait for other governments to grow a pair and get their vaccinating up to UK standards, not surprising people were quick to label UK the sick man of Europe, not so quick to recognise the express speed of vaccination

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

The rate the EU countries are going, I think another 2 months and the UK may well not be, especially if Italy keeps up with its latest daily toll 

....and France, Germany and Spain.

6 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Out of a total population of around 66 million. Yeah.....good sample. ????

So you don’t understand statistical sampling.

The UK Government is still funding the ‘Covid Furlough’ Which in truth is the ‘Brexit + Covid Furlough’.

 

The funding isn’t going to last and when it is removed the jobs it is maintaining need to stand on their own two feet.

 

 

 

 

22 hours ago, webfact said:

Britain has suffered Europe's biggest COVID-19 death toll

Polls are a poor way of news.

 

The UK had a higher rate of excess deaths among people aged under 65 in 2020 than almost every other country in Europe

By the end of June 2020, the UK had the highest excess mortality in Europe, according to figures from the ONS.

But by December it had been overtaken by Poland, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

20 hours ago, wombat said:

i guess the $64 question is where the media will now direct the fear and paranoia built up by Brexit + Covid?

Is it?

 

Why?

 

Did not occur to me at all.