Public opinion on the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic

Bookmark this page for the very latest Ipsos research data exploring public opinion and expert insights related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Together, this data shows the evolution of public opinion tracking the coronavirus outbreak and worry about the health pandemic that continues to worsen, before it gets better.

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 Video Diaries | vLog Series | COVIDWATCH | Latest Polls | Insight & Analysis

Life under Lockdown

Vlog: Human Adaptation

COVIDWATCH

Our REACT Study: An Explainer

Latest Coronavirus Polls and Research

2022

• 12 May: Public more confident Keir Starmer has followed Covid rules than Boris Johnson – but cost of living more important in how both are judged
• 27 April: Britons think speeding tickets and fixed penalty notices for attending parties during lockdowns are both serious offences
• 14 April: Majority of Britons say Boris Johnson should resign, in aftermath of ‘partygate’ fines
• 31 March: Public opinion on the end of free COVID testing
• 23 March: Two years of life under lockdown - how has the UK and people's lives changed?
• 9 March: Prevalence continues to decline across England, but infection rates remain high
• 24 February: COVID-19: Expectations and vaccination
• 24 February: Nearly half of Britons think UK Government is relaxing COVID rules too quickly
• 23 February: Brits’ concern about COVID-19 falls, but still high as many continue to take precautions
• 26 January: Positivity rates highest ever recorded in REACT-1 study, but prevalence beginning to plateau in population
• 18 January: Half of Britons believe measures to control coronavirus over Christmas were about right
• 14 January: Britons remain just as concerned about the Coronavirus as they were before Christmas as confidence in the NHS holds steady

2021

• 23 December: Latest findings show cases of Omicron rising fast, while highlighting success of booster and teenage vaccination programmes
• 22 December: 8 in 10 think the NHS is coping well with treating Coronavirus patients at the moment, but only just over half say the same for other services
• 21 December: Many Britons self-policing to save their Christmas from COVID as just over 4 in 10 say current measures aren’t strict enough
• 10 December: Half of Britons think most politicians and their advisers are unlikely to follow new COVID-19 rules
• 9 December: Most workers support workplace vaccine and mask mandates
• 8 December: Ipsos COVID trends: public concern about COVID-19 rises again
• 7 December: COVID-19: Will the pandemic ever end and how will we know?
• 19 November: One in three say UK’s handling of COVID has damaged reputation around the world (King's College London)
• 18 November: Latest REACT-1 study findings - November 2021
• 4 November: Latest REACT-1 study findings show rise in COVID-19 infection rates
• 28 October: COVID-19 is no longer the sole leading concern for Britain
• 26 October: Coronavirus no longer the world’s top worry as it is overtaken by economic concerns
• 14 October: Latest REACT-1 study findings show SARS-CoV-2 infection rates were rising in young people but remaining stable overall
• 11 October: Government's COVID-19 Charity Support Fund delivers hope to 6.5 million people across country
• 5 October: Fewer Britons expect Britain’s economy and society to have changed a year from now as a result of the pandemic
• 4 October: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health (AXA)
• 28 September: The majority of Britons think gender inequality will not be addressed as Britain recovers from the pandemic
• 15 September: ‘Death of the city’ post-COVID? Little sign in London and Paris – but each capital faces its own challenges
• 13 September: Most adults vaccinated against COVID-19 in all 13 countries surveyed intend to get a booster shot
• 6 September: 7 in 10 parents worried about their children catching COVID-19 when they return to school
• 12 August: Britons give positive scores for Government's record on vaccines
• 6 August: Britons more hopeful that the country will be stronger when it gets through the pandemic, but concerns about another variant and economic impacts remain
• 4 August: Latest REACT-1 study findings show COVID-19 infection rates three times lower for double vaccinated people
• 2 August: Half say they would be very likely to follow instructions to self-isolate if pinged
• 15 July: 45% of Britons predict worse mental health and wellbeing will be one of the longest-lasting outcomes of the pandemic for children (World Youth Skills Day)
• 14 July: Public dialogue on living with COVID-19 (Academy of Medical Sciences)
• 13 July: 3 in 4 Britons believe wearing face masks in public is very important
• 12 July: Eight in ten think Britain will learn to live with Coronavirus in future
• 8 July: Majority of Britons support extending certain COVID-19 restrictions, but not forever (The Economist)
• 8 July: Post-COVID vaccination behaviours and return to activities (World Economic Forum)
• 8 July: Latest REACT-1 study findings show COVID-19 infection rates three times lower for double vaccinated people
• 7 July: Post-COVID vaccination behaviours and return to activities (World Economic Forum)
• 5 July: Less than half expect restrictions to be eased on 19th July as planned, but confidence in the NHS remains high
• 30 June: 3 in 4 Britons support offering children the vaccine
• 28 June: COVID-19 and patient experience in the 2020 GP Patient Survey
• 24 June: Arguments against taking the COVID-19 vaccine have lost ground, but many are concerned about its ability to fight new variants
• 20 June: What will Britons miss about lockdown? Less traffic, better hygiene and quiet supermarkets but NOT watching government briefings
• 5 June: Rise in number of Britons who say they are saving more due to coronavirus pandemic
• 5 June: Majority of Britons are concerned about COVID-19 variants coming to the UK and support 2021 holiday ban to prevent
• 1 June: Study of the impact of COVID-19 on wellbeing in Scotland
• 1 June: Six in ten Britons still expect measures to be lifted on 21st June, but optimism that lockdown will be lifted has fallen over the month
• 26 May: All change? Travel behaviour, attitudes and social impact of COVID-19 (Department for Transport)
• 25 May: Majorities of unvaccinated adults in most of 15 countries would get a vaccine if they could (World Economic Forum)
• 20 May: An Ipsos study shows confidence in the vaccine remains high
• 18 May: Let’s party like it’s 1945: a sharp post-pandemic drop in hedonism (Nationwide Building Society)
• 17 May: Only half of Britons would be comfortable greeting people with handshakes and hugs in the same way they did before the pandemic
• 13 May: Findings from latest COVID-19 REACT-1 study published
• 11 May: Despite concerns for the year ahead, majority of Britons are hopeful for 21st June end of lockdown
• 28 April: Majority of Britons want to give vaccines to India, but not if it leads to delays in the UK vaccine rollout
• 28 April: Global public backs COVID-19 vaccine passports for international travel (World Economic Forum)
• 26 April: Number of people completely following COVID-19 restrictions falls, especially among 55-75-year olds
• 12 April: Expectations about when life will return to pre-COVID normal vary widely across the world (World Economic Forum)
• 8 April: Findings from latest COVID-19 REACT-1 study published
• 6 April: Vaccine confidence grows month-on-month in latest Ipsos KnowledgePanel poll
• 31 March: Majority of Britons support vaccine passports but recognise concerns in new Ipsos UK KnowledgePanel poll
• 25 March: Working through COVID-19: What behaviours will bounce back and what will stick? (Nationwide Building Society)
• 24 March: A year of life under lockdown: how it went and what people will miss (King's College London)
• 16 March: Looking after children and working from home (WFH) in the pandemic (Nationwide Building Society)
• 12 March: Scottish Government polling on COVID-19 and wellbeing
• 8 March: Britons among least likely to prioritise gender pay gap in COVID recovery (International Women's Day)
• 5 March: Majority of Britons say wearing ‘smart’ clothes only on their top half is acceptable for work video calls, but wearing pyjamas is a no-go
• 4 March: Final findings from latest COVID-19 REACT-1 study published
• 3 March: Confidence in the ability of the NHS to deal with COVID-19 at its highest since last June
• 2 March: Confidence in the vaccine growing, even among the most hesitant in people tracked in new Ipsos UK KnowledgePanel poll
• 19 February: Britons are most likely to want to donate surplus doses of COVID-19 vaccine to other countries
• 18 February: Interim Findings from REACT Study - February 2021
• 12 February: Over half of Britons support giving excess vaccine doses to other countries
• 9 February: Global attitudes: COVID-19 vaccines (World Economic Forum)
• 8 February: Strong approval for government's vaccine programme as Johnson preferred to lead pandemic response
• 2 February: Loved-ones struggle to keep in touch during latest lockdown
• 29 January: Almost half of Britons want teachers and nursery workers to be vaccinated next
• 28 January: Latest findings from REACT COVID-19 study published
• 25 January: Attitudes to COVID-19 vaccines (World Economic Forum)
• 21 January: Latest findings from REACT COVID-19 study published
• 18 January: Confidence in the NHS to deal with coronavirus falls to lowest level since pandemic began, but 3 in 5 still believe it can cope
• 17 January: Most Britons continue to say they are following coronavirus rules; almost half believe lockdown measures are not strict enough
• 13 January: Britons finding it harder to stay positive day-to-day during Lockdown 3

2020

• 15 December: Latest Findings From COVID-19 Study Published
• 15 December: Half believe Christmas coronavirus measures not strict enough
• 13 December: One in three people exposed to COVID-19 anti-vax messages (King's College London)
• 1 December: Study reveals why one in four have found rules harder in second lockdown (King's College London)
• 30 November: Latest interim findings from REACT COVID-19 Study published
• 26 November: COVID-19 vaccine trials announcements have lifted the nation’s spirits but some concerns remain
• 26 November: Leisure-wear, pyjamas and even showering less, has COVID accelerated a decline in formality?
• 24 November: Half of Britons think second lockdown in England will be effective in reducing spread of COVID-19
• 19 November: Scottish views of Boris Johnson’s handling of the pandemic hit new low
• 18 November: Scottish public supports tough coronavirus restrictions – but wants to see them relaxed at Christmas
• 18 November: Adult inpatient experience during the COVID-19 pandemic (Care Quality Commission)
• 18 November: Young Britons most likely to break Coronavirus rules in the pursuit of romance
• 16 November: Seven in ten Britons are confident in the NHS’ ability to deal with the pandemic
• 12 November: Latest key findings from COVID-19 study published
• 11 November: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… may be very different this year
• 10 November: Faith in the benefits of vaccines drops across the globe (Ipsos Global Trends)
• 2 November: COVID-19 provides pathway to future of carbon reduction, flexible working & local shopping (CBI)
• 30 October: Coronavirus and unemployment fears fuel interest in life insurance
• 29 October: Public weigh up how to allocate NHS resources during second COVID wave
• 29 October: Latest interim findings from COVID-19 swab testing study published
• 27 October: Largest COVID-19 antibody testing programme publishes findings on antibody response over time
• 26 October: Childcare and home learning for families of 0-4 year-olds during COVID-19
• 23 October: 3 in 10 Britons are worried about paying their rent or mortgage
• 20 October: Britons increasingly abiding by the COVID-19 rules, with social responsibility and the NHS the primary drivers
• 15 October: UK’s financial wellbeing in light of COVID-19
• 12 October: It’s all trick, no treat for Britons celebrating Halloween this year
• 11 October: Majority of Britons support local lockdowns, even if it impacts them directly
• 9 October: Largest testing study for Coronavirus publishes latest findings
• 5 October: New polling shows the financial and emotional impact of the Coronavirus pandemic (Health Foundation)
• 1 October: Interim results from largest COVID-19 study published
• 30 September: Most Britons would abide by self-isolation rules (BBC)
• 24 September: Majority of Britons support the ‘Rule of Six’ but few likely to report rule breakers
• 23 September: Demographic divide in likelihood to download and report symptoms on the Government’s contact tracing app (Health Foundation)
• 22 September: Less than half of Britons support a second complete national lockdown
• 22 September: How has COVID-19 affected trust in scientists? (UKRI)
• 18 September: COVID-19 Trends – Majority of Britons remain concerned about the risk of COVID-19 to themselves and the country
• 11 September: Latest COVID-19 home testing results reinforces need for vigilance
• 10 September: Half of mothers say they have taken on more childcare responsibilities than their partners during lockdown, compared to around a quarter of fathers
• 10 September: Public confidence in using NHS is returning, but concerns persist among groups worst affected by COVID-19 (Health Foundation)
• 6 September: Support for the Government’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic is falling (Health Foundation)
• 4 September: Housing ‘wish lists’ shift post lockdown (St Mowden)
• 1 September: Three in four adults globally say they would get a vaccine for COVID-19
• 31 August: Young Britons and Londoners most likely to consider travelling abroad for a holiday in the next year
• 28 August: Majority of those working from home are not finding working from home challenging, but many miss their co-workers and technology
• 24 August: COVID crisis: who’s been hardest hit, the impact on Britain and generational prospects
• 20 August: Vehicle owners continue to show interest in self-driving technology despite COVID-19
• 20 August: Perceptions of leader competence in handling of COVID-19 tend to mirror country experience
• 19 August: Women finding it harder than men to stay positive during the pandemic – particularly working mums
• 17 August: New data reveals how UK would be prepared to live if COVID-19 vaccine can’t be found (King's College London)
• 13 August: Largest home antibody testing programme for COVID-19 publishes findings (Infographic)
• 11 August: A fifth of the British public feel more at risk of cybercrime and fraud since lockdown
• 11 August: Concern about COVID-19 remains at record levels, despite falling infections
• 10 August: Who's least likely to say they'll get a COVID-19 vaccine? (King's College London)
• 7 August: Few believe Britain will be back to normal by Christmas, while opinion split on ending furlough in October
• 6 August: Largest testing programme for Coronavirus shows virus continued to decline in June (Infographic)
• 30 July: From home life to work and money: the impact of lockdown on the 50-70s revealed (Centre for Ageing Better)
• 30 July: Face masks becoming normal but a flashpoint while ‘COVID-secure’ behaviours sticking (King's College London)
• 28 July: Coronavirus fallout: new data reveals blame, impact on trust and views on the future of the UK
• 23 July: Nearly 9 in 10 Britons say it is either essential or important to wear a facemask in public to stop the spread of coronavirus
• 16 July: Public not clear about Government advice on socialising, work and travel
• 15 July: Initial findings released from UK's largest COVID-19 home testing study
• 14 July: Public dialogue on COVID-19 winter preparedness
• 8 July: Perceptions of lockdown timings – too fast, too slow, or about right?
• 3 July: Three in five Britons say the cost of living has increased since the start of the coronavirus crisis
• 3 July: Impact of coronavirus in care homes in England
• 2 July: How comfortable are Britons with returning to normal, as Coronavirus concern rises again?
• 18 June: COVID-19: The impact of lockdown on older generations (Centre for Ageing Better)
• 18 June: Belief among Britons in coronavirus myths (King's  College London)
• 17 June: Despite concerns for job security, Britons confident in their company’s management of the coronavirus crisis
• 16 June: Perception of the personal threat posed by COVID-19 gradually declining in Scotland
• 15 June: Survey on working with the EU to combat the COVID-19 pandemic (The Health Foundation)
• 11 June: How does COVID-19 spread? Global public belief in myths and theories
• 6 June: Coronavirus Data Trends – Britons’ concern for the country continues to decline
• 5 June: Lockdown TV: Viewers are enjoying new formats (Thinkbox TV)
• 4 June: Majority of people expect government to make environment a priority in post COVID-19 recovery
• 4 June: New data reveals how UK is sleeping under coronavirus lockdown (King's College London)
• 4 June: More think opening businesses puts too many people at risk of COVID-19 and we need to wait
• 3 June: Survey on COVID-19 track and trace smartphone app for The Health Foundation
• 1 June: Lockdown TV: What habits will stick as we leave lockdown? (Thinkbox TV)
• 29 May: Comfort food: Women more likely to admit to overeating, under exercising amid COVID-19
• 29 May: UK public still staying home to huge degree and even getting used to lockdown life, new data reveals (King's College London)
• 27 May: Anxiety the most common health concern among Britons under coronavirus lockdown
• 26 May: Four in five Scots say Nicola Sturgeon has handled the coronavirus outbreak well
• 26 May: New survey shows reduction in confidence in Government's Coronavirus response (King's College London)
• 21 May: Majority think Government communications on Coronavirus are clear, but fall from peak after original lockdown
• 21 May: Lockdown TV: VOD provides a platform for viewers to live vicariously (Thinkbox)
• 21 May: Lockdown TV: For brands trust and transparency are key (Thinkbox)
• 20 May: How comfortable are Britons returning to normal after lockdown?
• 20 May: 6 in 10 women finding it harder to stay positive day-to-day due to Coronavirus (for the  Fawcett Society)
• 14 May: Majority of Britons continue to think The Government should prioritise health over economy in COVID-19 response
• 13 May: Having a nanny or cleaner come to work from a different household is seen as unacceptable behaviour under lockdown
• 12 May: Britons are confident that their public services can cope with the aftermath of Coronavirus
• 7 May: Large majority of Britons predict coronavirus will lead to changes in our lives, work, economy and society even one year from now – but expect less changes to the way we are governed
• 7 May: 6 in 10 Britons struggle to stay positive about the future, but this could be changed with a vaccine
• 6 May: Lockdown TV: TV is still a key source of comfort and a valued facilitator of family time (Thinkbox)
• 6 May: Britons think Coronavirus will have harder impact for old, poor and those in cities, but believe society has become less divided
• 5 May: Lockdown TV: Consumers are increasingly conscious of their shopping habits (Thinkbox)
• 1 May: Majority of Britons uncomfortable returning to large sport or music events, public transport and bars or restaurants post lockdown
• 30 April: Major home testing programme for coronavirus will track levels of infection in the community
• 30 April: Spike in Britons thinking Government acted ‘too late’ to address virus but confidence in the NHS continues to grow
• 29 April: Journalists seen to be doing a better job of holding the Government to account on coronavirus than MPs and the Opposition
• 28 April: Britons least likely to believe the economy and businesses should open if Coronavirus not fully contained
• 27 April: Britons spend less and prepare to save more as Coronavirus outbreak affects jobs and businesses
• 24 April: Government advice could change Britons’ attitudes to facemasks
• 24 April: From comic relief to the comfort of nostalgia: 5 ways our TV viewing has changed in lockdown (for Thinkbox)
• 22 April: Half of Britons think the Government is unlikely to have a coronavirus lockdown exit strategy
• 22 April: Two thirds of Britons believe climate change as serious as coronavirus and majority want climate prioritised in economic recovery
• 18 April: Majority of Britons support government using mobile data for surveillance to tackle coronavirus crisis
• 17 April: How Britons are whiling away Coronavirus lockdown
• 17 April: Coronavirus: Confidence and Concern
• 16 April: COVID-19 and Mental Wellbeing
• 9 April: Life under lockdown: coronavirus in the UK (study with King's College London)
• 9 April: Most of us are staying home to stop spread of #COVID19: Our latest global poll
• 7 April: Financial impact of COVID-19 already being felt by Britons, especially younger generations
• 3 April: Britons more concerned for others than themselves amid COVID19 pandemic
• 3 April: Government message cutting through on COVID-19
• 3 April: Women more likely than men to have tried to help others amid COVID-19 outbreak
• 2 April: More people staying at home as concern about coronavirus increases
• 2 April: Over half of Britons believe the Government was too slow to enforce lockdown
• 1 April: One in five Britons think it likely they have already had COVID-19, though perceptions uncertain
• 30 March: A rapidly changing landscape: Social media discussions of COVID-19
• 26 March: Britain's view of COVID-19 as 'high threat' to their business jumps 19 points in a week
• 26 March: Public split over Britain’s ability to recover from coronavirus outbreak
• 26 March: Half of British workers finding it harder to do their job during COVID-19
• 24 March: Public divided on whether isolation, travel bans prevent COVID-19 spread; border closures become more acceptable
• 19 March: Economic confidence falls to lowest since 2008 but half think government handling the coronavirus crisis well
• 18 March: Six in ten Britons think it is unacceptable to bulk buy due to coronavirus concerns
• 17 March: Majority of people want borders closed as fear about COVID-19 escalates
• 9 March: Social media data links the impact of coronavirus epidemic and global economic fears
• 4 March: Three-quarters of Britons support quarantining cities and towns to prevent the spread of coronavirus
• 19 February: Coronavirus outbreak predicted to have an impact on financial markets and the global economy
• 14 February: COVID-19 – One in seven people would avoid people of Chinese origin or appearance
• 12 February: Poll of 8 countries finds majority say coronavirus poses a threat to the world

Coronavirus: Insight and Analysis

2022

• 10 May: Maternal mental health support in a Pandemic
• 1 April: Two Years On: Lessons From Covid Times
• 7 March: Infant feeding in a Pandemic: what does the NHS Maternity Survey 2021 tell us about infant feeding during the pandemic?
• 10 February: Pregnant in a Pandemic : What does the NHS Maternity Survey 2021 tell us about maternity care during the pandemic?

2021

• 23 July: Improving the care experience of patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
• 2 July: The Other Side of the Story: The evolving COVID-19 treatment landscape
• 28 May: Vaccine hesitancy among ethnic minority Britons
• 11 May: The humdrum of life under lockdown
• 31 March: Flirtation or commitment: Assessing post-pandemic stickiness of product subscriptions
• 25 March: Looking to the future, post pandemic (Nationwide Building Society)
• 23 March: Switching to an alternative survey method to assess crime levels in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic
• 17 February: Experiences of remote appointments: What does 2020 GP Patient Survey data tell us?
• 17 February: Are we approaching a crucial point in financial behavioural change?
• 13 January: Looking to the future, post-pandemic (Nationwide Building Society)

2020

• 1 December: Great expectations: Developments and dynamics of a COVID-19 vaccine
• 9 November: Communicating in a Crisis: The needs of news audiences
• 28 October: Vaccine Hesitancy: Understanding Belief Formation
• 26 October: Staying afloat during a crisis: How consumers and brands are surviving the ‘no normal’
• 23 October: Running the Active Lives survey through the coronavirus pandemic
• 13 October: Deliberative engagement with Londoners to steer the pandemic response
• 13 October: Children and young people’s wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic
• 7 October: Lockdown TV: Staying close to your audience (Thinkbox)
• 5 October: Vulnerable Customers – What happens when the money runs out?
• 30 September: Communicating Public Health: Conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic - Report 4 (Future Care Capital)
• 24 September: Communicating Public Health: Conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic - Report 3 (Future Care Capital)
• 16 September: Communicating Public Health: Conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic - Report 2 (Future Care Capital)
• 9 September: Communicating Public Health: Conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic - Report 1 (Future Care Capital)
• 29 July: How to grow a premium brand during a recession
• 28 July: The time is now: Telehealth and rise of virtual care
• 28 July: Signals #10: Understanding the coronavirus crisis – the story so far
• 24 July: Get on board the (savings) equality train
• 17 July: Adapting product testing in challenging times
• 9 July: How retailers can adapt and respond to fluid customer behaviours and expectations post-COVID-19
• 8 July: Signals #9: Understanding the coronavirus crisis
• 19 June: Signals #8: Understanding the coronavirus crisis
• 17 June: What does social distancing behaviour tell us about our needs?
• 4 June: Signals #7: Understanding the coronavirus crisis
• 2 June: Now what? Climate change and coronavirus
• 28 May: ESSENTIALS - Evolving your business in response to COVID-19
• 27 May: Organisational responses to COVID-19 based on the Forces of CX
• 20 May: Signals #6: Understanding the coronavirus crisis
• 7 May: Signals #5: Understanding the coronavirus crisis
• 6 May: Public opinion shifts will affect infrastructure in the post-coronavirus world
• 5 May: The impact of COVID-19 on how we eat (Synthesio Social Intelligence)
• 29 April: Monitoring business performance during – and after – social distancing
• 29 April: One month in: British public opinion on COVID-19
• 23 April: Signals #4: Understanding the coronavirus crisis
• 16 April: The changing role of media in COVID-19 lockdown
• 15 April: Medical crowdsourcing: What are Physicians communicating during COVID-19?
• 9 April: Signals #3: Understanding the coronavirus crisis
• 9 April: Staying close to your customers: Why cutomer experience matters  amid COVID-19 and social distancing
• 30 March: COVID-19: The Creative Fightback
• 26 March: Signals #2: Understanding the Coronavirus Crisis
• 26 March: Britain's view of COVID-19 as 'high threat' to their business jumps 19 points in a week
• 24 March: Innovating in challenging times: Research during COVID-19
• 20 March: COVID-19: We are the ‘underlying conditions’
• 17 March: Coronavirus & behaviour change: What does it mean for brands?
• 16 March: Corporate Reputation and the coronavirus
• 13 March: Signals: Understanding the coronavirus crisis