Survey: People unhappy with slow covid19 financial support

A RECENT survey found that 64 per cent of respondents were pleased with Government's covid19 response.

The Qure Covid19 Household Survey was carried out from May 4-May 9, with 827 people aged 18 and over completing an online survey.

"Overall, the government’s response was rated as quite positive by most persons."

Sixty-nine per cent of people were pleased with the Health Ministry's dissemination of information, the same figure was pleased with with the Government’s communication to the public, and 64 per cent were were pleased with the government’s overall response.

"The reasons for the displeasure with the government’s response to the covid19 pandemic revolved primarily around the delay in financial support received."

The study found that families who, prior to covid19, were in difficult financial situations were now facing a dire situation of reduced or no income with the lockdown.

"These families with little or no savings to buffer the effects on their household’s income have felt the burden of the

lockdown more acutely than other groups. This has triggered their dissatisfaction with the government’s response specifically as it relates to the application process for the salary relief grants, the disbursements of such and the provision of food cards.

The study said the second wave of demands and expectations from additional groups in the society can cause the Government to lose points in its approval ratings and the public’s perceptions of its overall response to the crisis.

“All the calls I made they put me on hold and even hung up on me. Saying they are dealing with a lot

right now and I’m on a waiting list," one respondent said.

"My child was promised a food card an didn't receive any. I gave up my name to receive help from social

services no help up till now no one visited me with no assistance. I have two kids - a nine-year-old and a two-year-old," another respondent said.

The people who felt that the government’s response to the pandemic was excellent focused on the government’s swift and decisive actions from the quarantining of infected persons, shutting down schools, closing our borders and non-essential businesses.

“I am extremely happy Mr Rowley and his team has been helpful by keeping us informed (and) closing the border so as to ensure the nation’s safety and enforcing that we keep safe by sanitising and social distancing. Keeping our kids safe," one respondent said.

On the health guideline, the majority of respondents reported that they regularly wear a mask (97 per cent), wash hands (92 per cent), and practise social distancing (88 per cent), although less people were avoiding touching their faces (62 per cent), and sanitising hard surfaces (66 per cent) and only 49 per cent of people sanitise their mobile phones regularly.

People 60 years and over were generally less likely to avoid touching their face or sanitising their mobile phones regularly as compared to other age groups, while those under 30 years were less likely to sanitise their mobile phones or other hard surfaces than older people.