Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1237083
14 MALTATODAY SURVEY maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 APRIL 2020 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The health authorities have so far given no indication as to which measures may be lift- ed and when but have been warning that if these decisions cause infection numbers to rise again, restrictions will be re-introduced. Women were more likely than men to ex- pect restrictions to last until the end of sum- mer (49.3% of women versus 40.4% of men) but men were almost twice as likely to believe restrictions will last until year's end (18.4% men versus 10% women). The overall trend is broadly reflected across all age groups, although the degree of those who believe restrictions will last until the end of summer varies from 50.3% among those aged 18-35 and 37.9% of those aged between 51 and 65. The end of summer d e a d - line also emerges as the most likely across all re- gions. But G o z i t a n s appear to be more p e s s i m i s - tic, with a quarter of them predict- ing that restric- tions will be in place until the end of the year. Restrictions are 'just right' Almost three quarters of people believe the social distancing measures introduced over the past weeks are "just right", while a quar- ter think they are "too lenient". Less than 2% believe they are "too strict". The overall result is reflected across both sexes, across all age groups, regions and po- litical allegiance. Among the elderly, who have been specif- ically targeted as a vulnerable group by the health authorities and asked to remain in- doors, 87.5% believe the measures are "just right". This contrasts with the working age population aged between 36 and 50, where 63.8% believe the restrictions were "just right". However, this age group also has the strongest believers that the measures were "too lenient" (33.7%). On a political level, there is strong consen- sus that the restrictions are "just right" (74% among PL voters and 67.5% among PN vot- ers). Nationalist voters tend to be more pessi- mistic with 30.4% believing the measures are too lenient, against 23.6% of Labour voters Working and shopping from home is a new reality A quarter of people are working from home, according to a MaltaToday survey that sheds light on lifestyle changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But while some workers have managed to integrate their job with their daily home life, others were less lucky and have experienced redun- dancy. The survey found that 25.3% of people were working from home, 26.3% continued working at their usual workplace and 10.2% lost their job. Another 38.1% did not work. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the closure of a number of busi- nesses and caused financial disrup- tion to others, necessitating stiff government support to avoid mass layoffs. Incomes have fallen for many workers, some have been laid off but others employed in certain sectors have continued operating as usual, possibly with some adjustments. Home working appeared to be more popular in the Northern and North- ern Harbour regions. The phenome- non also prevailed among those aged 18 to 35 with almost half (49.3%) say- ing they were working from home. The balance shifted towards the 'usu- al workplace' for all other age groups. The survey showed that redundan- cies were highest in Gozo (14.6%) and the Southern Harbour region (16%). In other regions, redundancies ran into single digit figures. However, a more worrying pros- pect was that redundancies were highest within the 51-65 age group, where 16.9% said they lost their job. Redundancies appeared to hit La- bour voters more than Nationalist voters, which is possibly a reflection of the socio-economic background of the respective voting base. While 5.8% of PN voters said they were redundant, the number shot up to 19.2% among PL voters. Another glaring difference was the percentage of people who worked Voted PL Voted PN M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 27.8% 40.4% 33.8% 26.6% 40.4% 28.2% 49.3% 29.6% 50.3% 25.9% 45.5% 28.9% 37.9% 23.5% 44.8% 33.7% 24.1% 42.4% 7.1% 26.2% 48.4% 29.8% 49.0% 22.8% 33.8% 35.0% 31.3% 41.6% 20.8% 48.9% 25.7% 47.3% 22.4% 55.8% Overall Voted PL Voted PN M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 11.0% 19.0% 17.0% 9.2% 19.6% 17.2% 10.7% 11.7% 11.7% 65.8% 9.4% 16.6% 14.0% 12.7% 21.3% 20.0% 20.0% 21.1% 10.3% 16.3% 68.5% 18.0% 21.7% 20.2% 46.5% 16.3% 52.0% 21.4% 17.4% 11.5% 13.6% 12.6% 62.3% 20.4% 20.6% 23.5% 13.4% 14.7% 10.4% 21.4% 18.4% 9.4% 18.2% 19.8% 12.3% 15.2% 17.5% 19.4% 16.7% 13.7% 24.7% Online and delivery Phone and delivery Overall Voted PL Voted PN M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 8.4% 91.4% 96.4% 12.6% 86.2% 10.2% 89.5% 6.6% 93.4% 10.2% 89.8% 9.6% 89.8% 8.2% 91.8% 95.6% 96.5% 10.1% 89.5% 8.9% 91.1% 7.8% 92.2% 19.8% 80.2% 6.3% 93.7% 10.2% 89.8% 7.8% 92.2% 93.9% 94.2% L (1-3) M Overall Voted PL Voted PN M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 38.1% 10.2% 37.5% 19.2% 28.9% 29.0% 27.2% 11.9% 48.9% 10.7% 9.4% 30.1% 12.2% 10.8% 45.9% 51.1% 95.9% 97.9% 43.6% 22.3% 14.7% 35.0% 19.2% 19.4% 38.2% 38.8% 40.5% 32.2% 9.9% 38.3% 38.1% Don't work Redundant Usual Work in an isolated Overall Voted PL Voted PN M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 73.62% 24.51% 73.99% 23.64% 67.48% 30.39% 70.80% 28.69% 76.43% 20.35% 75.07% 23.34% 63.81% 33.69% 70.29% 27.09% 87.51% 11.94% 88.27% 10.78% 73.60% 24.66% 60.18% 37.47% 76.89% 21.02% 82.59% 17.41% 70.55% 26.69% 66.76% 32.34% 81.65% 16.78% 74.28% 22.79% 77.35% 19.77% Just right Too lenient Too Strict Overall Voted PL Voted PN 27.4% 44.9% 14.2% 8.5% 27.8% 40.4% 15.7% 8.8% 33.8% 40.7% 16.3% End of April End of May End of June End of Summer End of Year Do not Know Voted PL Voted PN M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 73.99% 23.64% 67.48% 30.39% 70.80% 28.69% 76.43% 20.35% 75.07% 23.34% 63.81% 33.69% 70.29% 27.09% 87.51% 11.94% 88.27% 10.78% 73.60% 24.66% 60.18% 37.47% 76.89% 21.02% 82.59% 17.41% 70.55% 26.69% 66.76% 32.34% 81.65% 16.78% 74.28% 22.79% 77.35% 19.77% Overall Voted PL Voted PN M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern 27.4% 44.9% 14.2% 8.5% 27.8% 40.4% 15.7% 8.8% 33.8% 40.7% 16.3% 26.6% 40.4% 18.4% 8.6% 28.2% 49.3% 10.0% 8.3% 29.6% 50.3% 13.7% 25.9% 45.5% 18.0% 28.9% 37.9% 13.7% 13.7% 23.5% 44.8% 10.9% 15.9% 33.7% 36.9% 7.7% 16.8% 24.1% 42.4% 15.6% 12.5% 7.1% 26.2% 48.4% 15.4% 29.8% 49.0% 13.7% 22.8% 33.8% 25.4% 13.5% 35.0% 39.9% 10.9% 8.1% End of April End of May End of June End of Summer End of Year Do not Know Do you agree with the government's measures to tackle the pandemic? How long do you expect the coronavirus shutdown to persist? who think likewise. The PN had at the start of the pandemic clamoured for a complete lockdown be- fore moderating its discourse. Restrictions were introduced gradu- ally and today schools remain closed, hundreds of shops are kept shut, public gatherings of more than three people are banned and the elderly and the vulnera- ble are asked to remain inside and go out only to buy essential items. All travel to and from the island also remains shut. Maltese still at ease with coronavirus measures