Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1221489
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 MARCH 2020 MALTATODAY SURVEY Women more worried, more KURT SANSONE PEOPLE feel highly informed about the coronavirus but have a medium level of confidence the country is prepared for the outbreak, a MaltaToday survey shows. The figures also show that 43% of peo- ple are highly worried about the Covid-19 outbreak, while 42.8% are moderately concerned. Women are more worried than men and consequently more in- formed. The survey paints a mixed picture of people, who feel well-informed, con- cerned and absolutely certain the corona- virus will have an impact on the economy. Malta registered its first case of coro- navirus on 7 March and until yesterday had 18 confirmed cases, which were all imported. The survey was conducted between 3 March and 10 March before the drastic measures to close schools, introduce trav- el bans and mandatory quarantine were introduced. Who is worried? The numbers suggest that women are more worried than men. Almost half of women (49.6%) are highly worried as op- posed to men, where the figure drops to 36.4%. Men are twice as likely as women to reg- ister a low level of concern. While 18.9% of men fall in the low category, only 9.6% of women have a low level of concern. The majority of people between 18 and 65 have a medium level of concern but this shoots up to high among the elderly. The survey shows that among those aged 65 and over, 57.2% were highly con- cerned. Covid-19 has been particularly virulent among the elderly with health authorities advising them to stay indoors as much as possible. Gozitans appear to be the more relaxed with just over a quarter (26.9%) saying they are highly concerned – the lowest from all regions. The absolute majority of Gozitans (56.4%) have a medium level of concern. Majority concern about Covid-19 shifts into the highest category in the Northern Harbour (45.4%), the South-East (50.7%) and the Southern Harbour (47.5%). Is the country prepared? An absolute majority of 52.4% believe the country is moderately prepared for the coronavirus outbreak, while 31.1% have a higher level of confidence. Confidence in the country's prepared- ness is highest among the elderly. Only a quarter of people in the 18-35, and 36-50, age brackets believe the coun- try is highly prepared for the coronavirus outbreak, with 25.5% and 24% respective- ly, showing maximum trust. The level of confidence grows bigger among those aged 51-65, where 35.8% be- lieve the country is highly prepared. Max- imum confidence is highest among the elderly, where 42.7% believe the country is highly prepared. I n all age groups, the majori- ty believe the country is moderately prepared to deal with the outbreak. The highest level of confidence is ex- pressed by people living in the south east, where 42% believe the country is high- ly prepared. But the majority of people across all regions believe the country has an average level of preparedness. The Western region has the largest group of people (20.3%) who believe the country is poorly prepared to deal with the outbreak. A distinction does crop up depending on political allegiance. Labour Party vot- Highest concern is among elderly • Gozitans are most relaxed • 52.4% believe country is moderately prepared • Elderly have highest belief country is highly prepared • A third have travel plans disrupted but more are holding on MaltaToday Survey • Coronavirus From 1-10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 the most, how worried are you about the coronavirus? Overall PL 2017 PN 2017 M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern N Harbour S Eastern S Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 14.2% 42.7% 43.0% 15.1% 45.4% 39.5% 15.0% 46.0% 38.9% 18.9% 44.7% 36.4% 9.6% 40.8% 49.6% 14.9% 46.0% 39.1% 14.7% 45.2% 40.0% 15.7% 44.5% 39.8% 10.5% 32.3% 57.2% 28.8% 67.4% 16.0% 42.9% 41.1% 12.8% 40.7% 46.5% 18.0% 51.5% 30.5% 16.7% 56.4% 26.9% 14.1% 47.1% 38.8% 15.0% 39.7% 45.4% 7.7% 41.5% 50.7% 13.3% 39.2% 47.5% 19.9% 43.5% 36.6% L (1-3) M (4-7) H (8-10) From 1-10, how much do you think is the country prepared for the coronavirus? Overall PL 2017 PN 2017 M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary 16.5% 52.4% 31.1% 10.6% 48.1% 41.3% 31.9% 54.5% 13.7% 19.3% 50.7% 30.0% 13.7% 54.1% 32.3% 17.9% 56.7% 25.5% 18.7% 57.3% 24.0% 16.6% 47.6% 35.8% 11.4% 46.0% 42.6% 8.1% 41.0% 50.9% 15.4% 50.5% 34.1% 10.9% 61.0% 28.1% 27.5% 54.1% 18.4% L (1-3) M (4-7) H (8-10) Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern N Harbour S Eastern S Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 12.8% 40.7% 46.5% 18.0% 51.5% 16.7% 56.4% 14.1% 47.1% 38.8% 15.0% 39.7% 45.4% 7.7% 41.5% 50.7% 13.3% 39.2% 47.5% 19.9% 43.5% 36.6% From 1-10, how much do you think is the country coronavirus? Overall PL 2017 PN 2017 M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern N Harbour S Eastern S Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 16.5% 52.4% 10.6% 48.1% 41.3% 31.9% 54.5% 19.3% 50.7% 13.7% 54.1% 17.9% 56.7% 18.7% 57.3% 16.6% 47.6% 35.8% 11.4% 46.0% 42.6% 8.1% 41.0% 50.9% 15.4% 50.5% 10.9% 61.0% 27.5% 54.1% 9.2% 61.2% 14.0% 63.9% 18.5% 48.3% 14.2% 43.8% 42.0% 17.1% 52.0% 20.3% 53.8% L (1-3) M (4-7) H (8-10) From 1-10, how informed about the coronavirus do Overall PL 2017 PN 2017 M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo 38.2% 59.3% 37.9% 60.4% 32.8% 66.1% 40.7% 55.2% 35.6% 63.3% 46.5% 51.5% 48.6% 48.4% 28.9% 67.9% 24.5% 73.5% 22.4% 76.2% 41.9% 54.3% 39.4% 60.0% 39.2% 58.3% 34.0% 61.8% L (1-3) M (4-7) H (8-10) There is no doubt in people's minds that the coronavirus will hit the economy and this is something they have harboured even before Malta started adopting hard measures