Essential Report
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of the Coronavirus in Australia?
29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
Very concerned | 53% | 39% | 27% | 25% |
Quite concerned | 35% | 43% | 36% | 43% |
Not that concerned | 10% | 14% | 28% | 26% |
Not at all concerned | 3% | 4% | 9% | 6% |
Base (n) | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
Very concerned | 53% | 49% | 56% | 50% | 54% | 54% | 56% | 46% | |
Quite concerned | 35% | 37% | 32% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 33% | 37% | |
Not that concerned | 10% | 10% | 9% | 12% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 13% | |
Not at all concerned | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 4% | |
Base (n) | 1,086 | 539 | 547 | 341 | 362 | 383 | 727 | 359 | |
- Concern about Covid-19 has increased this week, with 53% now very concerned (up 14pts from last week).
- This is driven by more women saying they are very concerned about Covid-19 (up 8pts from last week) and capital city residents increasing concern (also up 8pt).
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of the Coronavirus in Australia?
22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
Very concerned | 39% | 27% | 25% |
Quite concerned | 43% | 36% | 43% |
Not that concerned | 14% | 28% | 26% |
Not at all concerned | 4% | 9% | 6% |
Base (n) | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
Age group | Location | |||||
Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
Very concerned | 39% | 36% | 39% | 41% | 40% | 36% |
Quite concerned | 43% | 43% | 44% | 43% | 43% | 45% |
Not that concerned | 14% | 18% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 26% |
Not at all concerned | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 3% |
Base (n) | 1,034 | 342 | 327 | 365 | 703 | 331 |
- Concern about the threat of the Covid-19 virus has increased this week as the impact of the outbreak affects more of the country. 39% are now very concerned by the threat (up from 27% at the start of the month), while 43% say they are quite concerned (up from 36%).
- Concern is highest among over 55 year olds (41% very concerned) and those in capital cities (40% concerned)

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
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