Essential Report
Changing behaviour due to Covid-19
Q. Have you changed your behaviour in any of the following ways since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak?
Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
Increased personal hygiene measures (e.g. hand washing) | 72% | 70% | 74% | 72% | 67% | 76% | 73% | 70% | |
Limited attending social spaces, shops, restaurants or group events | 60% | 56% | 63% | 60% | 58% | 61% | 61% | 56% | |
Stopped physical greetings (e.g. shaking hands, kissing, hugging) | 60% | 57% | 63% | 57% | 57% | 65% | 60% | 60% | |
Bought additional groceries to stock-up | 33% | 32% | 35% | 38% | 36% | 27% | 37% | 25% | |
Reduced use of cash to pay for purchases | 23% | 20% | 25% | 30% | 23% | 17% | 24% | 19% | |
Changed working patterns (e.g. changed hours, or working from home) | 20% | 24% | 17% | 33% | 24% | 6% | 23% | 14% | |
None of these | 12% | 13% | 11% | 8% | 15% | 13% | 10% | 16% | |
Base (n) | 1,034 | 519 | 515 | 342 | 327 | 365 | 703 | 331 | |
- Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, a majority of people have increased their personal hygiene (72%), limited their social interactions (60%) and reduced physical greetings (60%). A third of people say they have stocked up on groceries (33%).
- Younger people aged 18-34 were more likely to have changed their working patterns (33%) and reduced using cash for payments (30%)
- Just 12% of people say they have not changed their behaviour as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
Sign up for updates
Receive the Essential Report in your inbox.Essential Tags
2PP
Abbott
ALP
Anthony Albanese
Approval of opposition leader
Approval of Tony Abbott
asylum seekers
Australian economy
Bill Shorten
Carbon Tax
climate change
coronavirus
covid-19
economy
Education
Election
EMC
environment
ER
Essential Media
Essential Report
Federal Budget
Federal Government
federal politics
Gillard
Greens
Julia Gillard
kevin rudd
Labor
Labor Party
Liberal
Liberal Party
Liberals
mining
Nationals
Opposition leader
peter lewis
Polling
polls
Prime Minister
Scott Morrison
tony abbott
two party preferred
voting
Voting intention
Recent Comments
