Table.
Public attitudes, risk perceptions, and behavioural responses towards COVID-19 and seasonal influenza in three telephone surveys in Hong Kong
| Survey 1, Jan 20–23 (n=1008) | Survey 2, Feb 11–14 (n=1000) | Survey 3, March 10–13 (n=1005) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk perception of COVID-19 | |||
| Perceived susceptibility to COVID-19* | 186 (18·9%; 16·0–21·9) | 185 (17·4%; 14·8–20·1) | 140 (15·2%; 12·6–17·8) |
| Perceived severity of COVID-19† | 916 (89·6%; 85·8–93·3) | 902 (90·5%; 86·4–94·7) | 829 (82·0%; 78·6–85·4) |
| Worried about being infected with COVID-19‡ | 551 (52·5%; 48·7–56·3) | 558 (53·9%; 49·9–57·9) | 471 (46·5%; 42·9–50·0) |
| Risk perception of seasonal influenza | |||
| Perceived susceptibility to seasonal influenza* | 260 (25·1%; 22·0–28·3) | 231 (22·5%; 19·4–25·6) | NA |
| Perceived severity of seasonal influenza† | 406 (42·3%; 38·4–46·3) | 311 (32·7%; 28·9–36·6) | NA |
| Worried about being infected with seasonal influenza‡ | 370 (36·5%; 32·9–40·0) | 283 (30·3%; 26·6–33·9) | NA |
| Attitudes towards COVID-19§ | |||
| I'm confident that I can take measures to protect myself against COVID-19 | 518 (50·5%; 46·6–54·4) | 594 (59·2%; 54·9–63·5) | 679 (68·0%; 64·3–71·7) |
| I believe that the Hong Kong Government can take effective measures to control the spread of COVID-19 in Hong Kong | 338 (33·5%; 29·9–37·1) | 271 (31·8%; 27·8–35·8) | 336 (35·8%; 32·2–39·3) |
| I believe that the Central Chinese Government can take effective measures to control COVID-19 | 308 (31·7%; 28·1–35·3) | 352 (39·0%; 34·8–43·2) | NA |
| I believe that complete border closure is an effective measure to prevent COVID-19 spreading from mainland China to Hong Kong | NA | 784 (76·4%; 72·3–80·5) | NA |
| Complete border closure will seriously affect the life of citizens | NA | 298 (33·2%; 29·2–37·1) | NA |
| I worry about medical supplies, such as face masks, in Hong Kong | NA | 860 (84·1%; 80·0–88·2) | NA |
| I worry about the living supplies in Hong Kong due to border closure | NA | 244 (27·7%; 24·0–31·4) | NA |
| Preventive measures taken against COVID-19¶ | |||
| Avoided going to crowded places | 627 (61·3%; 57·2–65·4) | 920 (90·2%; 86·2–94·2) | 860 (85·1%; 81·7–88·4) |
| Avoided visiting mainland China | 800 (78·1%; 73·9–82·2) | NA | NA |
| Avoided contact with people with respiratory symptoms | 687 (66·8%; 62·7–70·9) | 834 (80·0%; 76·0–84·0) | 806 (78·7%; 75·3–82·1) |
| Used face masks | 778 (74·5%; 70·4–78·6) | 976 (97·5%; 93·5–100·0) | 992 (98·8%; 96·0–100·0) |
| Washed hands more often (including using hand sanitiser) | 726 (71·1%; 67·0–75·2) | 938 (92·5%; 88·6–96·5) | 941 (93·0%; 90·0–96·0) |
| Avoided touching public objects or used protective measures when touching public objects (eg, use tissue) | 387 (36·4%; 32·3–40·5) | 767 (73·8%; 69·8–77·9) | 746 (73·1%; 69·6–76·7) |
| House disinfection | NA | 897 (89·3%; 85·2–93·4) | 899 (89·6%; 86·4–92·8) |
| Used serving utensils when eating | NA | 686 (66·0%; 61·9–70·1) | 692 (67·7%; 64·1–71·3) |
| Stayed at home as much as possible | NA | 894 (88·0%; 83·9–92·1) | 868 (83·8%; 80·5–87·1) |
| Avoided going to health-care facilities | NA | 832 (81·0%; 77·0–85·1) | 759 (74·7%; 71·1–78·3) |
Data are n (%; 95% CI). Proportions were weighted by age and sex to the adult population in Hong Kong. All dates are in 2020. NA=not applicable (question was not asked in the survey). COVID-19=coronavirus disease 2019.
Numbers and proportions represent respondents that answered likely, very likely, or certain, rather than never, very unlikely, unlikely, or even chance.
Numbers and proportions represent respondents that answered serious or very serious, rather than very mild, mild, or moderate.
Numbers and proportions represent respondents that answered moderately worried or very worried, rather than not at all worried or slightly worried.
Numbers and proportions represent respondents that answered agree or strongly agree to these statements, rather than strongly disagree, disagree, or neutral.
Numbers and proportions represent respondents who had taken the measure in the previous 7 days to prevent contracting COVID-19.