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Easing restrictions

5 May 2020

Q. When do you think governments should start to ease the restrictions on travel and gatherings to allow offices, shops, restaurants, other workplaces, and public spaces to start operating again?

  04/05 27/04 20/04
As soon as possible 10% 10% 9%
Within the next 1 to 2 weeks 9% 7% 6%
Within the next month 21% 18% 14%
By the end of next month 15% 15% 13%
It is too soon to consider easing restrictions 37% 42% 49%
Unsure 8% 8% 10%
Base (n) 1,093 1,054 1,051

 

    Gender Age Group Location
  Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Capital Non-Capital
As soon as possible 10% 12% 9% 11% 13% 8% 10% 12%
Within the next 1 to 2 weeks 9% 11% 7% 12% 9% 7% 9% 10%
Within the next month 21% 21% 20% 26% 18% 18% 22% 17%
By the end of next month 15% 15% 15% 12% 17% 17% 16% 14%
It is too soon to consider easing restrictions 37% 32% 42% 28% 37% 44% 36% 38%
Unsure 8% 8% 7% 10% 7% 6% 7% 9%
Base (n) 1,093 539 554 341 372 380 734 359
  • People are becoming increasingly open to easing the lockdown restrictions. Those who think it’s too soon to lift restrictions has fallen from 49% two weeks ago to 37%.
  • One in five people think restrictions should be eased within the next month (21%).
  • Those aged over 55 are least likely to consider easing restrictions (44% say it’s too soon, compared to 28% of those aged 18-34).
  • Women are more likely than men to think it’s too soon to consider lifting restrictions (42% to 32%).
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