Essential Report
Reaction to Covid-19
Q. Which of the following is closer to your personal views of the Covid-19 outbreak?
20/04 | 13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | |
There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 | 14% | 13% | 17% | 18% | 33% |
The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right | 63% | 59% | 46% | 39% | 39% |
The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated | 24% | 29% | 37% | 43% | 28% |
Base (n) | 1,051 | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 |
Gender | Age Group | ||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 | 14% | 16% | 11% | 23% | 10% | 9% | |
The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right | 63% | 58% | 67% | 56% | 64% | 67% | |
The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated | 24% | 26% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 24% | |
Base (n) | 1,051 | 525 | 526 | 341 | 325 | 385 | |
- The proportion of people judging the response to the Covid-19 outbreak has been steadily increasing for the past four weeks and has now reached 63% (up from 39% last month).
Reaction to Covid-19
Q. Which of the following is closer to your personal views of the Covid-19 outbreak?
13/04 | 06/04 | 29/03 | 22/03 | |
There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 | 13% | 17% | 18% | 33% |
The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right | 59% | 46% | 39% | 39% |
The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated | 29% | 37% | 43% | 28% |
Base (n) | 1,068 | 1,069 | 1,086 | 1,034 |
Gender | Age Group | ||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 | 13% | 16% | 10% | 19% | 13% | 7% | |
The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right | 59% | 58% | 60% | 52% | 63% | 60% | |
The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated | 29% | 26% | 31% | 29% | 23% | 33% | |
Base (n) | 1,068 | 537 | 531 | 343 | 340 | 385 | |
- Over half of people (59%) now believe the reaction to the threat of Covid-19 has been about right.
Reaction to Covid-19
Q. Which of the following is closer to your personal views of the Covid-19 outbreak?
29/03 | 22/03 | |
There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 | 18% | 33% |
The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right | 39% | 39% |
The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated | 43% | 28% |
Base (n) | 1,086 | 1,034 |
Gender | Age Group | ||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 | 18% | 20% | 17% | 24% | 19% | 12% | |
The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right | 39% | 42% | 36% | 39% | 39% | 39% | |
The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated | 43% | 39% | 47% | 37% | 42% | 49% | |
Base (n) | 1,086 | 539 | 547 | 341 | 362 | 383 | |
- Now 43% of participants believe the threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated compared to 28% who said the same last week.
- Women (47%) and participants over 55 years old (49%) are more likely say the treat has been under-estimated than men (39%) and 18-34 year olds (37%).
Reaction to Covid-19
Q. Which of the following is closer to your personal views of the Covid-19 outbreak?
Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
There has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19 | 33% | 36% | 30% | 39% | 37% | 23% | 34% | 30% | |
The response to the threat of Covid-19 is about right | 39% | 40% | 39% | 40% | 33% | 44% | 39% | 39% | |
The threat of Covid-19 has been under-estimated | 28% | 24% | 32% | 21% | 30% | 33% | 27% | 31% | |
Base (n) | 1,096 | 519 | 515 | 342 | 327 | 365 | 703 | 331 | |
- A third of people believe there has been an over-reaction to the threat of Covid-19. Men (36%) and those aged 18-34 (39%) are more likely to think there has been an over-reaction than women (30%) and those aged 55+ (23%).
- 39% think the reaction has been proportionate to the threat and 28% believe the threat has been under-estimated.
- Those who think there has been an over-reaction are less concerned about the threat of Covid-19 (69% very/somewhat concerned, compared to 92% who think the threat has been under-estimated) and think they are less likely to contract the virus (38% to 49% very/somewhat likely to catch Covid-19).

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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