Most British adults clueless when it comes to coronavirus restrictions, poll finds
Roughly one in five did not know which tier their region was in
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The majority of the British public are clueless when it comes to the different rules and regulations introduced by Boris Johnson and the UK government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, a survey suggested.
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed 66 per cent have struggled to understand the regular changes to government restrictions and guidelines.
Just 12 per cent were aware about the need to self-isolate for 10 days after the onset of Covid-19 symptoms – with 62 per cent thinking it was for 14 days.
And while just over one in 10 (12 per cent) correctly said you should self-isolate for 10 days if you test positive for the virus – 62 per cent believed it should be for two weeks.
Despite the talk of tiers, 17 per cent admitted they were not aware of Mr Johnson’s “traffic light system”, while almost 19 per cent did not know which tier – medium, high, very high – they were currently in.
But while eight in 10 said they understood the “rule of six”, 20 per cent said they did not know if they were allowed to go to their local pub at the moment.
Fifty three per cent were found to have no idea if they're allowed to visit another country in the UK.
The study, commissioned by Medicspot, also revealed just 65 per cent were confident they know all the symptoms for Covid-19.
The same figure (65 per cent) said they understood what is meant by the term “circuit breaker” – where there would be tighter restrictions replicating the original lockdown.
But despite the prevalence of them, just 80 per cent knew it was a legal requirement to wear a face mask in shops or on public transport.
A spokesperson for Medicspot said: “These are fast-moving and challenging times for everyone, and it is difficult to keep up with the new restrictions and guidelines as they are introduced.
“It’s hard to make a one-size-fits-all response that suits everyone, but there are a number of rules people still aren’t clear on.”
However, the study also found that Britons are clear on the workplace, with just 7 per cent not understanding the government's guidelines around doing their job.
The OnePoll survey for Medicspot revealed just over half (54 per cent) know that parents can send children to school if they have a minor cough or cold.
But a fifth didn’t know which countries you can or can’t travel to, while six in 10 were unaware some countries and airlines require a fit-to-fly certificate to confirm you do not have evidence of an active Covid-19 infection.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments