Table 1.

Codebook of issues presented in the questions about COVID-19 from Portuguese population (n = 293).

	Coded questions (n)	Quotes
Doubts	230
Medical and technical doubts
How to proceed in case of symptoms	37	“I have fever and cough, what should I do?” “I have flu-like symptoms like fever and cough, but I haven't been in contact with infected people or made any recent trip. Should I seek for help?”
About the virus, the disease, immunity	29	“In December 2019, I got a vaccine for seasonal flu and another for pneumonia. Do I have any immunity for this Coronavirus?” “Are there cases of people who have been cured and the virus has reoccurred?”
Signs and symptoms	19	“Which are the symptoms and how long it takes to develop the disease?”
Treatment, healing, case fatality	18	“When the infection is confirmed, what is the treatment?”
About transmission	17	“What is the evidence about the transmission in asymptomatic cases? Is there evidence of transmission without symptoms? (…)” “If we get the virus, how long does it take to transmit to others?”
Tests	14	“What is the sensitivity of the COVID-19 diagnostic test used in Portugal, in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients?"
How to proceed in case of traveling	13	“I have a family member who went to Italy for work, he returns tomorrow, and I would like to know what measures should I take (…) He has no symptoms, but he has high blood pressure and chronic bronchitis.”
Health systems response capacity	8	“What do you think about the government’s and health authorities’ actions in facing this situation? Do you think that Portugal is able to deal well with this virus and that the national health system will be able to endure the rising number of new cases?”
Interpreting technical terms and scientific data	6	“We are in the mitigation phase – what does it mean? How long this period can take?”
Vaccine	4	“(…) Are we going to have a new vaccine that everyone takes, and it will never be a problem again, or is it going to be a recurring illness just like the flu?”
How to proceed in case of other disease	3	“I am a 40-year-old man with a transplanted kidney and taking immunosuppressants. What specific care and procedures should I have?”
Practical doubts
About transmission between persons	40	“How do I know, after this crisis, when can I go out without fear and feeling safe?” “What precautions should we take when a colleague is from an affected area [with community transmission]?”
About transmission through objects, food, environment and animals	28	“Do I need to disinfect my grocery? How long can the virus remain in products?” “I would like to know if there is, at the moment, any indication about the contagion between animals and humans?”
About the use of equipment as masks and gloves, and hand hygiene	18	“Is 96 % alcohol effective in killing the virus?” “I have a mask that I wear when I go to my parents' house in order to protect them (I think the exposure is easy in my professional activity), but I don't know if it [mask] can be used more than once. How many times can a mask be used?”
Environmental hygiene and disinfection	18	“Is it important to disinfect the cell phone? How can I do it? Should I avoid contact with my face? (…)”
Legal and social rights, social support	27	“I work in a forest cleaning company. I already had three pneumothoraxes, I intended to stay at home, but the company says no. Am I in a risk group? Am I really obliged to go to work?” “The elderly care facility has been closed. Will I receive support for taking care of the elderly at home?”
Concerns and Fears	144
Medical and technical concerns
About vulnerable persons	53	“I have a family member in an elderly care facility with no COVID-19 positive cases. Should I bring them home?” “My wife is pregnant, and I am from the Felgueiras municipality [where the outbreak started in Portugal]. Should she take any measures [to prevent the disease]?”
About symptoms	17	“I have a bit of a cough, a stuffy nose and some headaches. I don't have fever. I don't know if it's a flu or a cold or COVID-19. What is the most likely to be? I am in a house where there is a person who was on a plane with another person who is suspected of COVI-19 positive”.
About protecting others	13	“As a general practitioner, married and mother of 2 children under the age of 5, who tomorrow will work for the frontline of combat, how can I protect my nuclear family? What steps should I take?”
About the transmission	6	“Is it not inconsistent with closing libraries and suspending classes when the public transports, which are powerful transmission vehicles, continue to operate?”
Preventive behaviours
Daily and normal activities	37	“My housekeeper works at several houses, is it prudent to continue to come here?” “My husband works in a factory, and he has been going work every day. I know he is careful, but I am scared. We have an extra room at home. Is it better for us to sleep apart?”
Isolation requirements	26	“A school just closed after confirmation of COVID-19 in a parent. My children were there for two hours. Should all children in that school be in quarantine? If so, how many days?”
Behaviours during quarantine and social isolation	21	“In addition to washing our hands often and avoiding going out, only when strictly necessary, what other type of behaviour should we adopt?” “What precautions should we follow if we have someone infected at home, to prevent transmission to the remaining household?”
Financial, social and psychological impact	8	“Since quarantine is something new in our society, what emotional impact will it have on us and how can we combat the feeling of exclusion?” “Regarding the national economy, how would a possible national quarantine worsen the financial situation of the country, companies, families, etc… In future, will life return to "normal" or "the same" as usual?”
Uncertainties about the future		“(…) After these initial two or three months of containment measures like isolation and quarantine, what will be the plan to control the virus? (…)”
Rumours, fake news, contradictory information and search for credible information	5	“There has been contradictory information from health authorities regarding the use of ibuprofen in case of contracting COVID-19 (…) How should we do in case of mild symptoms?”