Poll: four in ten Czechs don't observe all of the country's COVID-19 regulations

Prague, Oct 20 (CTK) - About half of Czechs (46 percent) agree with most or all of the government's regulations against the spread of COVID-19, according to the National Pandemic Alarm poll carried out on October 16-18.

About one-tenth strongly disagree with the regulations. Only six out of ten observe all the measures.

Most of those who observe the regulations do so because they believe it is good, but one-quarter of them observe the measures only because they do not want to be fined or get into a conflict. People under 30 represent the highest percentage of age groups that only observe the regulations for these reasons.

Others observe only the rules that they consider important or reasonable. Only a small percentage of people resolutely reject all of the restrictions.

The poll showed that 70 percent fear for the health of their loved ones, and 52 percent fear for their own health. These people more often support the government restrictions, the poll showed.

Most people are against the closing of schools, especially elementary schools, and restaurants. Many also do not like that sport and cultural events have been limited, and that face masks must be worn.

Women were more unhappy than men about the closure of schools and cancelled cultural events, while men are more unhappy about the restrictions related to sport events.

People are more often afraid that the infection would harm their loved ones than themselves. When asked whether they were afraid that their loved ones would be hospitalized, 59 percent said they were. Three out of ten fear for their own lives, mostly people aged over 60.

As for negative economic impacts, most people are most concerned about the situation of their family members rather than of their own situation. Half of Czechs are afraid that their loved ones would have financial problems. One in four feared that they would lose their own job.

The poll also showed that a majority of the people believed that COVID-19 was developed in a laboratory, and that an effective vaccine would be developed next year.

But only two in five Czechs would get vaccinated, especially older people and those who expressed fear for health.

According to the poll, Czechs feel a lack of clear and understandable information, but not a lack of information about the government measures.

Half of the people assess Czech Health Minister Roman Prymula positively; 37 percent are of the view that he does not do his job well.

The panic index increased from September to October, but this occurred not only in Czechia, but also in the other four countries in which it was measured.

According to the index, Czechs panic less than Poles, Hungarians and Slovaks, and more than Bulgarians. But the number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants is the highest in the Czech Republic.

Forty-four percent of Czechs said they had personal experience with COVID-19, while a month ago it was 27 percent.

The poll was carried out on 1,416 people aged over 15 by the European National Panels, which is a joint project of the Nielsen Admosphere, NMS Market Research and STEM/MARK polling agencies.