According to Russians, the coronavirus is more dangerous than the seasonal flu. More than half of Russians consider that Russian health and epidemiology services are capable of protecting the population against an epidemiological threat.
MOSCOW, February 26, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease: how dangerous it is and how to fight it.
An overwhelming majority of Russians have heard of the coronavirus disease emerged in China early this year (99%; 68% say they are highly informed about that).
More than half of those who are aware of the coronavirus outbreak consider that this virus is more dangerous than the seasonal influenza (59%); those who think so are mainly Russians aged 60 and over (67%) and those aged 18-24 (64%). One-quarter think that the coronavirus is as dangerous as the seasonal flu (26%).
Half of Russians who are aware of the coronavirus outbreak are afraid that they or their families can get infected (52%). However, only one out of ten thinks the probability is rather high (11%), while more than half (60%) are confident that the likelihood is really low. One-third of respondents are confident that this disease threatens neither them nor their families 28%); this share is higher in large cities (35% in the metropolitan areas; 33% in million-plus cities).
According to 64% of Russians, it is possible to get protected against the coronavirus; they are mainly young respondents aged 18-24 (73%). According to those who heard of the outbreak, in order to prevent infection with the coronavirus it is important to wash hands and practice hygiene (37%), to avoid mass gatherings (32%), to wear a mask (23%), to avoid going to China or other countries (11%), and not to come into contact with the ill or potentially ill people (8%).
In case of an epidemic Russian epidemiology and health services are capable of protecting the population against the spread of the coronavirus, according to 67% of respondents; 17% of them are highly confident. Those who are more likely to share this stance are Russians aged 60 and older (75%). On the contrary, one-third of those who are aware of the coronavirus outbreak (28%), tend to be more skeptical: they think that in case the disease does break out Russian health services will not be capable of protecting the population.
Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted February 8, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers is used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Are you aware/do you hear for the first time that there was a coronavirus outbreak in China early this year? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and older |
I am well aware | 68 | 72 | 60 | 65 | 71 | 73 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 31 | 26 | 39 | 34 | 29 | 26 |
This is the first time I hear about that | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
In your opinion, is the coronavirus more dangerous than the seasonal influenza, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who heard of the coronavirus outbreak) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and older |
Coronavirus is more dangerous than seasonal influenza | 59 | 64 | 49 | 53 | 61 | 67 |
Coronavirus is neither more nor less dangerous than seasonal influenza | 26 | 24 | 34 | 30 | 25 | 19 |
Coronavirus is less dangerous than seasonal influenza | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
Don’t know | 10 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 11 |
Other countries also report coronavirus cases. Are you afraid that you or your relatives can be infected with the coronavirus today? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who heard of the coronavirus outbreak) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow, St Petersburg | Million-plus cities | Cities with 500–950 thousand population | 100–500 thousand population | > 100 thousand population | Rural area |
Definitely afraid | 12 | 6 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 18 |
Somewhat afraid | 40 | 44 | 33 | 44 | 43 | 43 | 36 |
I am confident nothing will happen neither to me nor to my family | 28 | 35 | 33 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 23 |
I have not thought about it | 18 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 23 |
Don’t know | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
How would you assess the probability of getting infected with the coronavirus: highly probable/hardly probable/undecided? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who heard of the coronavirus outbreak and are not confident that there is no threat) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow, St Petersburg | Million-plus cities | Cities with 500–950 thousand population | 100–500 thousand population | > 100 thousand population | Rural area |
Highly probable | 11 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 15 |
Hardly probable | 60 | 68 | 63 | 72 | 61 | 54 | 54 |
I cannot assess the probability / Don’t know | 29 | 27 | 28 | 21 | 29 | 35 | 31 |
Based on what you know, have heard of, do you think that it is possible to prevent infection with the coronavirus, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who heard of the coronavirus outbreak) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and older |
It is possible to protect yourself against the coronavirus | 64 | 69 | 59 | 73 | 62 | 63 | 65 | 61 |
It is impossible to protect yourself against the coronavirus | 24 | 19 | 28 | 18 | 25 | 27 | 24 | 23 |
Don’t know | 12 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 16 |
In your opinion, what should be done to prevent getting infected with theto coronavirus? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who heard of the coronavirus outbreak; answers of at least 2% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Wash hands, practice hygiene | 37 |
Avoid mass gatherings | 32 |
Wear a mask | 23 |
Avoid travelling to China or other countries | 11 |
Not to come in contact with the ill /potentially ill people | 8 |
Adopt ahealthy lifestyle | 6 |
Close the border with China, introduce quarantine | 4 |
Practice cold showers, strengthen immune system | 4 |
Eat onion, garlic, use other natural home remedies | 4 |
Take anti-viral drugs for prevention | 3 |
Take vitamins | 3 |
Get vaccination | 2 |
Take care of yourself | 2 |
Visit doctors when the first symptoms occur, undergo treatment at home | 2 |
You should not do anything special | 3 |
It is impossible to protect yourself against this virus /none | 4 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 16 |
In your opinion, are the Russian authorities (health and epidemiology services) capable of protecting the population against the spread of coronavirus in case of an epidemic? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who heard of the coronavirus outbreak) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and older |
Definitely yes | 17 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 20 |
Rather yes | 50 | 54 | 49 | 49 | 45 | 55 |
Rather no | 20 | 15 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 16 |
Definitely no | 8 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 5 |
Don’t know | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.