Ipsos Research Highlights - January 2021
In this week's Ipsos Research Highlights we share our latest COVID-19 testing results, falling confidence in the NHS to cope with the pandemic and how the public feel about the new President of the United States.
Latest findings from REACT COVID-19 study published
Our first interim report of the year with Imperial College London finds that show infections increased by 50% from early December with 1 in 63 people infected. Regional prevalence between 6-15 January was highest in London, with 1 in 36 people infected. There was a increased nationally in all adult age groups and was highest in 18 to 24 year olds at 2.51%. The rise of infections coupled with the increased in pressure on the NHS ensures why it is critical for people to stay home.
Confidence in the NHS to deal with coronavirus falls to lowest level since pandemic began, but 3 in 5 still believe it can cope
Confidence in the NHS is at 60%, a 12 point drop from November – which is the lowest point in the pandemic. Eighty-eight per cent of Britons are concerned about the risk COVID-19 poses to the country as a whole. Two in five in London (41%) say they are ‘not confident’, whilst a third of those in the South (33%) also lack confidence and 36% of those in the North and Midlands.
Most Britons continue to say they are following coronavirus rules; almost half believe lockdown measures are not strict enough
With increased pressure on the NHS, there is public support for going further than the existing measures to tackle the pandemic. Forty-eight per cent of Britons feel that the measures are not strict enough, up from 39% at the start of November. Should cases numbers continue to get worse, Britons would also be prepared for further steps. Three-quarters (76%) say mask-wearing should be made mandatory at work while 61% feel it should be compulsory anywhere outside.
Latest Ipsos polling shows public views on Brexit, the direction of the country, the parties and their leaders as 2021 begins
Favourability for each political party remains largely unchanged with just 1 point between the Conservative and Labour party (28% vs 29%). Britons are still split of the benefits of Brexit, under half (45%) think Brexit has had a negative impact and 28% think it’s been positive for Britain – down 5 points from January 2020. Unsurprisingly, Rishi Sunak remains the most popular Politian but these ratings have started to slowly drop.
In other news
As Joe Biden gets inaugurated as President of the United States, Britons are hopeful about the future. Half say they are favourable towards the incoming President and a similar proportion (47%) expect the US to use its influence around the world mostly for good over the next four years
Just 45% of Britons expect life will return to normal this year, with people living much as they did before the coronavirus outbreak. One in three (34%) think it will be January 2022 or later.
More than 4 in 10 (43%) Britons say they are trying to lose weight. Around half of women trying to work on losing weight compared to 37% of men are trying to do the same.
As ever, please do let us know what you think, and I hope you find something to interest you.
Ben Page
Chief Executive, Ipsos
[email protected]