Covid: Public opinion turns on Government

The public mood has dramatically shifted in the fight against Covid- 19, according to a landmark Kantar/Sunday Independent opinion poll, which has found soaring levels of disapproval at the Government's handling of the pandemic, the roll-out of the vaccination programme and duration of Level 5 restrictions to limit spread of the virus.

For the first time in a year, approval for the Government's handling of the pandemic (43pc) has dropped below the 50pc mark - a massive 19-point decrease since the last poll was taken in November/December and a 35-point drop since this time last year.

After a week of controversy around the Beacon Hospital vaccination of teachers at a private school, and a generally slow vaccination programme, the poll also finds strong disapproval (53pc) at the manner in which the Government has dealt with the roll-out of vaccines, with just a third (29pc) approving and only 7pc strongly approving.

Perhaps most concerning for the Government and health authorities, the poll finds huge frustration with the level of Covid restrictions: half (50pc) believe the restrictions are being lifted too slowly - a significant 11-point increase since the last poll and up a massive 38 points since July.

The poll indicates that the public mood turned around the time the country entered a second year of the fight against Covid-19. Overall, it finds the public to be increasingly impatient for a return to normality, pessimistic as to when that will happen, more angered than ever at the Government's handling of the pandemic, more dissatisfied at Nphet, and somewhat concerned about but reasonably confident in vaccines.

It also reveals a public increasingly turning its attention to more social activities, such as going out to bars and restaurants, but still intending to be cautious, even after vaccination.

Since the last poll at the end of 2020, there has been an across-the-board increase in those who are hugely concerned by the virus, say it is impacting their day-to-day lives and worried they will get sick no matter how much they take care of themselves.

In terms of the economy, the poll finds a relatively small increase in those worried about the future but also a marginal increase in those who believe the economy will recover quickly once the pandemic passes - a finding which indicates the public is beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

However, most people (41pc) think it will be a year before the country gets back to normal, while 16pc believe it will be two years and 11pc more than two years.

The dramatic fall in approval for the Government's handling of the pandemic is one of the stand-out findings of the poll: the level of disapproval (43pc) is up 19 points, which includes a 13-point rise in those who strongly disapprove. The level of disapproval is stronger among younger and working-class people.

While a quarter (26pc) disapprove of Nphet's handling of the pandemic, 59pc still approve. However, that approval rating represents a 10-point drop since November/December, when Nphet recommended the lifting of restrictions for Christmas. Of the 50pc who believe the lifting of restrictions is too slow, a sizeable 22pc say it is "far too slow" - up 13 points since November/December.

According to Kantar associate director Paul Moran, these findings show "we are in danger of wanting to truly break out".

In relation to vaccinations, a majority (53pc) disapprove of the Government's handling of the roll-out. However, when asked who was most to blame, 39pc said drug manufacturers, 29pc said the Government and 24pc said the European Union.

In relation to concerns about taking the vaccine, the poll finds a sizeable 30pc have some level of concern but 63pc have no concerns; 64pc intend to maintain social distancing after vaccination and 38pc intend to continue wearing a face mask, while less then a fifth (19pc) say they would change their current behaviour and relax more.

Sunday Independent