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Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 25/05 | 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | |
| Very concerned | 30% | 33% | 34% | 32% | 39% | 44% | 45% | 51% | 53% | 39% | 27% |
| Quite concerned | 49% | 47% | 49% | 46% | 44% | 43% | 43% | 37% | 35% | 43% | 36% |
| Not that concerned | 16% | 16% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 14% | 28% |
| Not at all concerned | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 9% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very concerned | 30% | 29% | 33% | 28% | 32% | 26% |
| Quite concerned | 49% | 49% | 49% | 49% | 49% | 48% |
| Not that concerned | 16% | 18% | 14% | 17% | 15% | 20% |
| Not at all concerned | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 7% |
| Base (n) | 1,087 | 341 | 364 | 382 | 738 | 349 |
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 18/05 | 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
| Very concerned | 33% | 34% | 32% | 39% | 44% | 45% | 51% | 53% | 39% | 27% | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 47% | 49% | 46% | 44% | 43% | 43% | 37% | 35% | 43% | 36% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 16% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 14% | 28% | 26% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very concerned | 33% | 32% | 33% | 35% | 35% | 30% |
| Quite concerned | 47% | 46% | 45% | 50% | 46% | 48% |
| Not that concerned | 16% | 17% | 18% | 13% | 15% | 16% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
| Base (n) | 1,073 | 339 | 349 | 385 | 730 | 343 |
- In the only significant change from last week, the proportion of 35-54 year olds who are very concerned about the threat of Covid-19 drops from 39% to 33%.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 11/05 | 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
| Very concerned | 34% | 32% | 39% | 44% | 45% | 51% | 53% | 39% | 27% | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 49% | 46% | 44% | 43% | 43% | 37% | 35% | 43% | 36% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 14% | 18% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 14% | 28% | 26% |
| Not at all concerned | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very concerned | 34% | 31% | 39% | 31% | 36% | 29% |
| Quite concerned | 49% | 52% | 47% | 48% | 48% | 50% |
| Not that concerned | 14% | 15% | 11% | 16% | 13% | 18% |
| Not at all concerned | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% |
| Base (n) | 1,067 | 341 | 341 | 385 | 718 | 349 |
- Concern about the threat of Covid-19 increased this week with 34% saying they are very concerned and 49% saying they are quite concerned.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 04/05 | 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
| Very concerned | 32% | 39% | 44% | 45% | 51% | 53% | 39% | 27% | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 46% | 44% | 43% | 43% | 37% | 35% | 43% | 36% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 18% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 14% | 28% | 26% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very concerned | 32% | 27% | 34% | 34% | 34% | 27% |
| Quite concerned | 46% | 49% | 43% | 47% | 47% | 46% |
| Not that concerned | 18% | 18% | 20% | 15% | 16% | 22% |
| Not at all concerned | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
| Base (n) | 1,093 | 341 | 372 | 380 | 734 | 359 |
- Concern about the threat of Covid-19 has lessened this again week, with 32% saying they are very concerned (down from 39% last week) and 46% saying they are quite concerned.
- Those aged 18-34 have a lower concern (24% not that/not at all concerned) to those aged over 55 (18%).
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 27/04 | 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
| Very concerned | 39% | 44% | 45% | 51% | 53% | 39% | 27% | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 44% | 43% | 43% | 37% | 35% | 43% | 36% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 13% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 14% | 28% | 26% |
| Not at all concerned | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very concerned | 39% | 39% | 42% | 37% | 41% | 36% |
| Quite concerned | 44% | 47% | 39% | 47% | 45% | 44% |
| Not that concerned | 13% | 10% | 15% | 14% | 12% | 15% |
| Not at all concerned | 3% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 5% |
| Base (n) | 1,054 | 343 | 332 | 379 | 720 | 334 |
- Concern about the threat of Covid-19 has lessened this again week, with 39% saying they are very concerned (down from 44% last week) and 44% saying they are quite concerned.
- Concern in both capital and regional areas has eased, with the proportion very concerned in capital cities falling from 46% to 41%, while in regional areas it has moved from 40% to 36%.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
| Very concerned | 44% | 45% | 51% | 53% | 39% | 27% | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 43% | 43% | 37% | 35% | 43% | 36% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 14% | 28% | 26% |
| Not at all concerned | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very concerned | 44% | 48% | 45% | 39% | 46% | 40% |
| Quite concerned | 43% | 40% | 44% | 46% | 42% | 45% |
| Not that concerned | 11% | 11% | 9% | 14% | 10% | 14% |
| Not at all concerned | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Base (n) | 1,051 | 341 | 325 | 385 | 722 | 329 |
- Concern about the threat of Covid-19 has stayed steady falling the softening last week. 44% are very concerned about the outbreak (45% last week) with a further 43% who are quite concerned (43% last week).
- Concern has fallen for the second week among over 55 year olds. The proportion saying they are very concerned has decreased from 54% to 39% over the past two weeks.
Coronavirus concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Australia?
| 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | 09/03 | 10/02 | |
| Very concerned | 45% | 51% | 53% | 39% | 27% | 25% |
| Quite concerned | 43% | 37% | 35% | 43% | 36% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 9% | 10% | 10% | 14% | 28% | 26% |
| Not at all concerned | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 6% |
| Base (n) | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 | 1,096 | 1,057 |
| Age group | Location | |||||
| Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | |
| Very concerned | 45% | 45% | 47% | 45% | 47% | 42% |
| Quite concerned | 43% | 43% | 40% | 44% | 43% | 43% |
| Not that concerned | 9% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 12% |
| Not at all concerned | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 4% |
| Base (n) | 1,068 | 343 | 340 | 385 | 722 | 346 |
- Concern about the threat of Covid-19 has lessened this week, with 45% saying they are very concerned (down from 51% last week). The proportion of people who say they are Quite concerned has increased by the equivalent amount from 37% to 43%).
- The proportion of over 55s saying they are very concerned has decreased from 54% to 45, while concern in both capital and regional areas has eased (those very concerned in capital cities has fallen from 53% to 47%, while in regional areas it has moved from 48% to 42%).
Specific Covid-19 concerns
Q. To what extent are you concerned about these possible impacts of the Covid-19?
| Very concerned | Quite concerned | Not that concerned | Not at all concerned | Unsure | |
| The Australian economy as a whole | 45% | 40% | 10% | 3% | 2% |
| General unemployment if companies are forced out of business | 39% | 40% | 12% | 5% | 4% |
| The physical health of close family members | 32% | 41% | 19% | 6% | 3% |
| My economic situation if I lose my job or have less work | 32% | 26% | 16% | 19% | 7% |
| The impact on my superannuation, savings or investments | 31% | 32% | 18% | 12% | 7% |
| My physical health and catching the virus | 27% | 35% | 26% | 8% | 3% |
| My close family members’ mental health | 24% | 38% | 24% | 11% | 3% |
| My ability to buy food and essential items if stores run out | 23% | 35% | 26% | 12% | 3% |
| Children’s development by missing out on school | 21% | 31% | 23% | 17% | 8% |
| My mental health as a result of social distancing | 18% | 29% | 28% | 22% | 3% |
- Economic issues are seen as most concerning when thinking about the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis. 45% say they are worried about the economy as a whole and 39% are very concerned about general unemployment.
- The top concern for 18-34 year olds was their financial position if they lose a job or work (40% said this was very concerning). The economy (37%) and general unemployment (36%) were also main concerns for this age group. Those aged 18-34 were more likely than other age groups to be concerned about the impact on their mental health (25% to 15%), and that of their families (30% to 21%).
- Concern for children is highest among those in households with dependent children (30% are very concerned).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
Labor
51.5%-0.5
Coalition
48.5%+0.5
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