Preserving the economy, even if it leads to a deterioration in the health situation, is now more important to a section of public opinion, especially in the United Kingdom and Germany, according to an international study published on Monday.
Carried out by the Kekst CNC cabinet in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden and Japan, the study – carried out between September 28 and October 5 with 6,000 people – reflects the evolution of public opinion from a previous survey in May.
"The main information is the change in priorities of the public, who are now more concerned with protecting the economy"sums up James Johnson, director of the survey department.
In Germany, 49% of those surveyed in May considered limiting the epidemic a priority and 33% protecting the economy, now it is 40% and 39%. In the UK, where there are still many daily cases of COVID-19, the difference between the two priorities has also narrowed.
The people interviewed are also reluctant to new restrictions and containment measures, even if the majority predict a difficult winter: more than 50% in Japan, the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom think that there will be a new epidemic wave.
"Large majorities reject restriction measures, also in the event that hospitals are saturated in winter", according to the study.
With everything, "the proportion of people prone to vaccination is on the rise in each country", Add. In France and Japan, an average of 80% of people say they are vaccinated or in favor of it. The United States has become the least prone country, five points behind France.
The report also indicates an increase in "gap" between vaccinated and unvaccinated. 34% of Germans and 33% of Swedes say they are willing to break up with unvaccinated friends.
In general, pessimism about the future looms among the six countries in the study, with a population that thinks there will be an increase in rates and the cost of living in the coming years.
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