February, 2020; Paris, France – A majority of people across eight large countries say the coronavirus poses a high or very high threat to the world and an additional one in three say the virus is a moderate threat to the world.
More than one in two people in Japan (66%), Australia (61%) and the United States (55%) are concerned about the threat of the outbreak on the world. Canada (42%) and Russia (42%), the United Kingdom (43%), and Germany (47%) have slightly lower levels of high or very high threat.
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos survey conducted online from February 7 to 9, 2020 among 8,001 adults aged 16 (18) -74 in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Less Than One In Five Feel Coronavirus Outbreak Contained
On average, only one in five people (19%) agree the coronavirus outbreak has been contained and will soon be over, while more than twice as many disagree (46%). People in the U.K. (55%), Canada (51%), Australia (50%), and Japan (49%) were most likely to disagree the outbreak has been contained. One in three Russian respondents believe the coronavirus outbreak has been contained (33%).
Added to that, more than four in five (86%) people across these eight countries say they have seen, heard, or read a great deal or fair amount about the outbreak.
Together, this data shows that most people are closely tracking the coronavirus outbreak and are also worried the health epidemic will continue to worsen before it gets better.
In response, there is widespread support for significant actions to control the virus. On average, four in five (85%) people support mandatory screening of those traveling from infected countries, and there is a similar level of strong support for mandatory quarantine of those who could have the infection. Two-thirds (66%) of people agree the government should ban travel to and from impacted countries, and that airlines in their country should be restricted from flying to China.
Topline data follows:
Q. How much, if at all, have you seen, read or heard about the coronavirus outbreak?
| US | Canada | France | United Kingdom | Australia | Germany | Japan | Russia | |
| Base: All respondents | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1001 | 1000 | 1000 |
| A great deal | 42% | 40% | 67% | 39% | 42% | 27% | 39% | 29% |
| A fair amount | 43% | 45% | 28% | 54% | 47% | 49% | 53% | 48% |
| Not very much | 12% | 13% | 4% | 7% | 9% | 22% | 5% | 21% |
| Nothing at all | 2% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Don’t know | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Summary | ||||||||
| T2B: Great deal/fair amount | 85% | 86% | 95% | 92% | 88% | 76% | 92% | 77% |
| B2B: Nothing/Not much | 14% | 14% | 4% | 7% | 10% | 23% | 6% | 22% |
Q. (The world) What level of threat do you think the coronavirus poses to each of the following?
| US | Canada | France | United Kingdom | Australia | Germany | Japan | Russia | |
| Base: All respondents | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1001 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Very high threat | 23% | 13% | 16% | 12% | 28% | 13% | 26% | 11% |
| High threat | 31% | 29% | 33% | 31% | 33% | 34% | 40% | 30% |
| Moderate threat | 32% | 38% | 34% | 42% | 27% | 35% | 27% | 36% |
| Low threat | 9% | 15% | 10% | 11% | 7% | 13% | 4% | 14% |
| Very low threat | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| Summary | ||||||||
| T2B: High threat | 55% | 42% | 49% | 43% | 61% | 47% | 66% | 42% |
| B3B: Low threat | 43% | 55% | 48% | 56% | 37% | 51% | 33% | 57% |
Q. (The coronavirus outbreak has been contained and will soon be over.) Do you agree or disagree with the following (is that strongly or somewhat?):
| US | Canada | France | United Kingdom | Australia | Germany | Japan | Russia | |
| Base: All respondents | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1001 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Strongly agree | 6% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 2% | 7% |
| Somewhat agree | 15% | 13% | 14% | 12% | 15% | 16% | 13% | 26% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 26% | 26% | 30% | 22% | 26% | 33% | 32% | 28% |
| Somewhat disagree | 27% | 32% | 29% | 36% | 29% | 28% | 31% | 18% |
| Strongly disagree | 19% | 19% | 13% | 20% | 21% | 14% | 18% | 14% |
| Don’t know | 7% | 8% | 12% | 7% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 7% |
| Summary | ||||||||
| T2B: Agree | 21% | 15% | 16% | 16% | 19% | 20% | 15% | 33% |
| B2B: Disagree | 46% | 51% | 42% | 55% | 50% | 42% | 49% | 33% |
Q. (Total strongly & somewhat agree) To what extent, if at all, would you support or oppose each of the following measures?
| US | Canada | France | United Kingdom | Australia | Germany | Japan | Russia | |
| Base: All respondents | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1001 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Anyone travelling to and from infected countries should undergo mandatory screening | 83% | 86% | 87% | 86% | 88% | 78% | 78% | 91% |
| Government should impose mandatory quarantine for those who could have the infection | 79% | 83% | 84% | 84% | 87% | 74% | 80% | 84% |
| Airlines from my country should stop flying to China | 68% | 67% | 68% | 70% | 75% | 59% | 67% | 61% |
| The government should ban any travel to and from affected countries | 70% | 66% | 68% | 66% | 73% | 50% | 71% | 64% |
| Public transit systems in my country, including buses, subways, and trains, should be taking precautions to prevent the further spread of coronavirus | 73% | 60% | 56% | 61% | 70% | 48% | 76% | 72% |
| The government should send doctors, materials, supplies abroad to help countries affected by the virus | 61% | 55% | 52% | 49% | 52% | 62% | 56% | 56% |
| Airlines from my country should stop flying to other infected countries besides China | 62% | 54% | 59% | 57% | 59% | 44% | 46% | 54% |
About the Study
These are the results of an Ipsos survey conducted February 7-9, 2020 on the Global Advisor online platform among 8,001 adults aged 18-74 in Canada and the United States and 16-74 in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom.
The sample consists of approximately 1000+ individuals in each country. The samples in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. can be taken as representative of these countries’ general adult population under the age of 75. The sample in Russia is more urban, more educated and/or more affluent than the general population and should be viewed as reflecting the views of the more “connected” segment of the population. The data is weighted so that each market’s sample composition best reflects the demographic profile of the adult population according to the most recent census data.
Where results do not sum to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be +/-1 more/less than the actual, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses or the exclusion of don’t knows or not stated responses.
The precision of Ipsos online polls are calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points and of 500 accurate to +/- 4.8 percentage points. For more information on the Ipsos use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website. For the Silo, by Dianne Bankay.
This study did not have any external sponsors or partners. It was initiated and run by Ipsos with the intention to share our understanding about the world we live in and how citizens around the globe think and feel about their world.
About Ipsos
Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.
Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.
Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).
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