Essential Report
Truth in statements about Covid-19 spread
Q. How confident are you that the following statements about Covid-19 are true?
NET: True | NET: Not true | Definitely true | Probably true | Probably not true | Definitely not true | Unsure | |
Even if children and young people tend to be less affected by Covid-19, they can still catch it and pass it on to others | 88% | 8% | 62% | 26% | 6% | 2% | 4% |
It’s possible for people to have the virus and be contagious even if they don’t feel sick in any way | 88% | 8% | 61% | 26% | 6% | 3% | 4% |
You can still catch Covid-19 even if you have a face mask | 82% | 12% | 50% | 32% | 9% | 3% | 6% |
People are buying up and hoarding large amounts of medicines and toilet paper so they can sell them for inflated profits | 74% | 20% | 38% | 36% | 16% | 5% | 5% |
Busloads of outsiders have been observed coming to small-town supermarkets and buying up most of their stock in response to the Covid-19 outbreak | 73% | 17% | 39% | 33% | 13% | 4% | 10% |
It’s no more dangerous than a typical winter flu | 31% | 61% | 16% | 15% | 17% | 44% | 8% |
- More than four in five participants believe the three statements about the spread of Covid-19 to be true.
NET: True | Gender | Age Group | |||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
Even if children and young people tend to be less affected by Covid-19, they can still catch it and pass it on to others | 88% | 85% | 92% | 81% | 88% | 95% | |
You can still catch Covid-19 even if you have a face mask | 82% | 80% | 85% | 77% | 81% | 88% | |
Busloads of outsiders have been observed coming to small-town supermarkets and buying up most of their stock in response to the Covid-19 outbreak | 73% | 70% | 75% | 65% | 70% | 81% | |
People are buying up and hoarding large amounts of medicines and toilet paper so they can sell them for inflated profits | 74% | 71% | 77% | 69% | 70% | 82% | |
It’s no more dangerous than a typical winter flu | 31% | 34% | 28% | 38% | 30% | 26% | |
It’s possible for people to have the virus and be contagious even if they don’t feel sick in any way | 88% | 84% | 91% | 82% | 88% | 92% | |
Base (n) | 1,086 | 539 | 547 | 341 | 362 | 383 |

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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