Coronavirus infections – Many do not take protective measures
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has recorded the fears and fears of the population about the new corona virus in a “corona monitor”. It also became clear that almost a third of the population has so far not taken any protective measures. In view of the urgent reminders from politics and medical experts, a questionably high proportion.
The measures taken so far to contain the infections with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are positively evaluated by a large part of the population, but apparently around a third of the people do not consider it necessary to implement them personally. The latest BfR survey found that 32 percent of those surveyed have so far not taken any measures to protect themselves or their families from being infected with the corona virus.
Positive assessment of the measures taken
A total of 90 percent of the respondents to the “Corona Monitor” judged the measures ordered to contain the pathogen, such as school closures, quarantine measures or the ban on contact, to be justified and thus view them as very positive. BfR reports that 86% and 74% of the respondents also judged the closure of most shops or curfew to be appropriate. Nevertheless, almost a third of those surveyed have not yet taken any protective measures.
What protective measures are taken?
Fortunately, around two-thirds state that they want to protect themselves from infection through various measures. Avoidance of the public is mentioned here most often, but frequent and thorough washing of hands, distance from other people and the use of disinfectants are among the measures implemented, according to the BfR.
Social contacts, doorknobs and cash
The fear of a corona infection showed a split picture: 41 percent expect rather little impact on their own health, while 37 percent consider this to be quite significant. People fear Covid-19 much more than the flu. Also, only 28 percent of those questioned are sure that they can protect themselves against infection with the help of the protective measures taken. Respondents rated proximity to other people (81 percent), dirty doorknobs (61 percent) and cash (45 percent) as potential sources of infection.
The survey also makes it clear that the vast majority of the population (72 percent) feel well informed about what is going on and that television, the Internet and print media serve as sources of information. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) was named among the official bodies as the most frequent source of information.
“In future, we want to measure how the population in Germany perceives the risk posed by the new type of corona virus every week (and) we hope that this representative survey will provide us with a kind of ‘fever curve’ from which we can read how people take the risk assess and deal with it, ”says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel in a press release on the new “Corona Monitor”. (fp)
Author:
Dipl. Geogr. Fabian Peters
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Sources:
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): Contagion with the coronavirus: The most feared are other people – and door handles (published March 27th, 2020), bfr.bund.de
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): Corona-Monitor as of March 24, 2020, bfr.bund.de
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Important NOTE:
This article contains general information only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
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