The vast majority of people will stay at home if they develop symptoms of coronavirus, according to a straw poll we’re running this week and next.
Of over 3,000 responses so far (as of 12:45pm today), around 2,573 say they will do just that, rather than risk spreading it to others.
180 respondees say that they won’t, and 381 were unsure what they’ll do.
Asked whether they’ll carry on wearing face coverings when in crowded indoor spaces, again most people – 2,463 of the responses – say that they will, 422 say that they won’t, and 249 were unsure.
And an overwhelming 2,664 of the total respondees confirmed that they feel safer meeting people outside in the fresh air, with just 291 saying they don’t and 179 unsure.
But the closest result in the council poll was when asked if people will continue to take the lateral flow test even after the tests stop being available for free.
1,040 people said that they will, 1,019 say they won’t, and 1,075 are unsure.
Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health, said:
“The quick poll gives an indication of how people are feeling right now about risk, and about how they intend to carry on behaving in future, now that there’s no longer any legal requirement to self-isolate and free access to testing comes to an end this month.
“The responses say to me that there’s still a lot of concern among people about coronavirus in our communities.
“We don’t know the profile of our respondees of course, so have no knowledge about whether they are older or younger, fit or more vulnerable.
“It is however very reassuring to see that the majority of people who have responded to our survey are indicating cautious behaviours that will help to protect themselves and others from the spread of coronavirus.
“The result on people’s attitude to testing is perhaps unsurprising. We’re waiting to see further guidance from the government about who will continue to have free access to tests from April.
“But while they’re freely available for the rest of this month, many people may not have looked that far ahead yet to decide whether or not they’ll continue to use them.
“The public health advice, of course, is that continued use of lateral flow tests, especially if you’re visiting older or vulnerable friends or relatives, is important.”
The poll results come as Devon starts to see another rise in COVID-19 cases across the county in all age groups, with the rates currently highest and growing fastest in the working age population.